In 2021 we teamed up with the Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service to launch the K9 Firewise Patrol – supported by Firewise UK, a wildfire prevention scheme.
What is the K9 Firewise Patrol
People walking with dogs are often the main visitors to greenspaces and the countryside, so we introduced this voluntary scheme asking our Dorset Dogs community to help observe what’s happening on our heathlands on their daily dog walks and to report any suspicious behaviour directly in the emergency services. Our K9 Firewise patrol dogs along with their owners help keep our heathlands safe from wildfires.
The impact of heath fires
So far this year 160 hectares of heath have burned, equivalent to 225 football pitches, across 37 heaths.
This is 15 times more than all of the heath burned last year, and over twice as many heaths have been affected. In total in 2024 10.5 hectares of heath burned, equivalent to 15 football pitches, over 18 heaths.
Sophie Clegg, Dorset Heaths Monitoring Warden said: “In comparison to last year, there have not only been more heath fires attended by the fire service, but the impact of fire has been more widespread, with nearly twice as many heaths affected by fire. The conditions this year have also caused many of the fires to become much bigger, resulting in nearly eight times more heathland habitat burned in comparison to this time last year.”
The recent Holt Heath fire sadly left 72 hectares of heathland destroyed. When it was safe to do so, the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust coordinated a licensed and trained wildlife rescue, with some help from the Dorset Heath Partnership team and Dorset Dogs. In total, 25 common lizards, 2 slow worms, a grass snake, a sand lizard, and an adder were saved and safely relocated. Sadly however, many reptiles did not survive the fire.
A big ‘Thank You’
We’d like to take a moment to say a huge thank you to our K9 Firewise Patrol volunteers. Since the scheme began, our volunteers have submitted over 1,200 reports, helping to keep our heathlands safe. And in 2025 alone, they’ve dedicated more than 261 hours to patrolling, reporting, and raising awareness. Their presence is not just valuable — it’s vital. These volunteers are the eyes and ears on the ground, helping protect our landscapes, wildlife, and communities.