The site where it started, near Sugar Hill, contained both these items, as well as glass bottles, and the cause of the fire was ascribed to 'social activity'.

[1] The initial attendance was 14 fire engines, as well as police resource to close Sugar Hill/Bere Road, which runs between the A35 and Wareham, and had been made impassable due to smoke.

Forestry England, who managed the land, pointed out that the 1,500 hectare forest was one of the only places in the UK where all six species of British reptile – the common lizard, sand lizard, slow worm, grass snake, adder and smooth snake – live.

[6] A third of the forest is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and is known for ladybird spiders and ground nesting birds such as woodlark.

[11] Also in attendance was a Forestry England fire-fighting helicopter, Wildfire Tactical Advisors from Hampshire, West Sussex and South Wales, a tactical burn team, and nine separate drone deployments by the fire service, Dorset Police and Wiltshire Police.