Firefighters battle second blaze at Moors Valley Country Park

A second fire has broken out at Moors Valley a day after a blaze in woodland at the leisure site.

The country park released a social media post this afternoon (Tuesday) saying: “Moors Valley is currently experiencing another fire incident in the forest.

“As the rangers work to manage the situation, the decision has been made to close the car park and restrict access to the site, including the visitor centre and restaurant.”

A spokesperson for Dorset fire service said: “We were called at 2.08pm today to Moors Valley Country Park, to reports of a fire in the open.

“Crews from Christchurch, Redhill Park, Wimborne, Poole, Westbourne, Verwood, two lightweight off-road vehicles from Verwood and Ferndown, alongside crew from Redbridge, Lyndhurst, and a water carrier from Ringwood are currently in attendance.

“Firefighters are using beaters and multiple hose reel jets to extinguish.

“There is currently an amber wildfire alert in place for the service area, and we urge people to take extra care while enjoying our open spaces in the sunshine.

“Heath fires can occur at any time of year or time of day, and we advise everyone to remain vigilant.”

The park had just reopened this morning after 80 firefighters from more than 20 stations across Hampshire and Dorset battled a blaze in pine woodland measuring 400 metres by 500 metres at the site.