A LARGE blaze believed to be started deliberately lit up the sky over Poole yesterday night. 

DWFRS were alerted to a fire at the Bourne Valley Nature Reserve to reports of a large fire billowing smoke.

The incident occurred just before midnight and took over an hour to extinguish using multiple appliances from nearby stations.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Rescue Service said: “We were called to Bourne Valley Nature Reserve at midnight for two fires, each approx.

“25m x 25m. We sent fire engines from Westbourne, Poole (x2), Wimborne, small 4x4 appliances from Poole and Ferndown, and a water carrier from Poole.

“Six hose reel jets and beaters were used to extinguish the fires, with the stop at 12.41am. We believe the fires to be suspicious, local residents said at the time they had reported to the police.”

A resident in the area who witnessed the blaze said: “Started from what we saw about midnight. There were two fires, one high up on the heath and one lower down by the alleyway by Gussage Road.

“Absolutely awful - the only thing me and my partner noticed was that there was also a fire the other day the day the football was on but a much smaller one.”