Wildfire prevention scheme appeals for dog walkers

Dog owners are being asked to look out for early signs of wildfires while walking on heathlands.

Dorset Dogs and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue (DWFRS) are appealing for human and dog volunteers for their joint project K9 Firewise Patrol.

Participants are asked to record walks with their pets while keeping an eye out for potential fires or any suspicious activity.

The initiative said it was aimed at keeping the community and wildlife safe from "the devastating effects of wildfire".

The project is within the Dorset Heaths Partnership and started just before the Covid pandemic.

Team manager Paul Attwell said it supported land managers with dog-related issues across the heathlands and encourage "responsible dog ownership".

He said: "There are about 12 volunteers that are regularly doing that but in view of the high number of fires that we saw last season across the heathlands, we have tried to recruit more volunteers to cover a bigger area."

DWFRS said the number of wildfire incidents it attended "has more than doubled since 2023, with 1,040 fires in the open recorded in 2025 and 510 recorded in 2023".

One of them was a large wildfire at Holt Heath, near Wimborne, that destroyed 72 hectares (177 acres) of land and took firefighters from around the country days to bring under control.

Attwell said existing participants were mostly around Poole and Bournemouth and they were looking for more to recruit especially in the Purbeck area.

"It's recognising that the key users on most of our heathland sites are dog walkers," he said.

"It's just checking with us - any anti-social behaviour that they see, they'll report."

An induction and training session is provided for participants.

Attwell added that "all dogs are welcome" and that the expectation was "not to challenge people, it's just to be out and about".

"Their dogs get a bright red collar and a bandana that they can wear, so if they do meet other people, they can talk about what they're doing.

"It's just really getting people to be eyes and ears on the ground."

DWFRS prevention delivery manager Vikki Thomas said the collaboration was "incredibly beneficial" for the fire service, particularly during dry periods.

"These patrols bring a number of benefits, including the ability to spot and report incidents quickly, enabling us to respond faster and help us protect more of the heathland.

"They also act as a deterrent to potential fire setters, while showing other visitors how partners are working together to protect the area and local wildlife."