Wednesday 17 August 2022 01:25 PM Scorched nature reserve left looking like a 'warzone' after devastating wildfire trends now

Horrifying photos show a precious naure reserve now looks like a 'warzone' after a huge blaze caused by a barbeque ripped through the area. 

The once green Studland peninsula was left charred over the weekend after the three-day fire ripped through the headland. Firefighters had to dig trenches to stop the flames, resulting in a 'haunting scene' that one volunteer described as 'something out of the Second World War.'

Crews also uncovered unexploded bombs across the three hectares which had been consumed by flames. The National Trust site in Dorset, which is the nation's first 'super reserve,' is still cordoned off as bomb disposal squads remove the WWII explosives.

At the height of the disaster - which began on Friday afternoon and was likely started by a disposable barbecue and a campfire located near Knoll Beach - almost 100 firefighters were tackling the blaze. 

Reserve managers have said the site, which is home to rare species like sand lizard and Dartford Warbler, could take decades to recover. 

The devastating blaze comes as Dorset recorded a 492 per cent increase in open fires during first 10 days of August when compared with the same period last year. 

Brad Stevens, who was duty manager for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue during the fire, said: 'It's been a team effort across the service, not only operational staff but fire control, support services, delivery and equipment and ICT teams all deserve credit.

'About 80 to 85 per cent of our operational workforce are on call, so they're trying to juggle their family and work life and drop that at the sound of a pager sometimes several times a day.

'They went above and beyond without complaining in arduous and exhausting conditions during a relentless weekend.'

He also thanked the Salvation Army for their assistance as well as the local Corfe Castle Bakery who donated treats to firefighters.

'The scale of it is incredible and you really get a sense that if the fire wasn't controlled as well as it was, it would have taken the whole lot,' he said.

'The ground was still very hot and you could just smell ash. Such a large area has just been completely blitzed and it's very sobering walking around there.

'I feel that if people were to go there and see the damage it would be a real education. I feel we've hit a tipping point with this sort of thing and until we nail home the point that having a fire on this land is wrong, it's going to happen again.'