Preventing wildfires caused by BBQs and campfires

Organisations across Dorset are asking people not to have BBQs and campfires in areas at high risk of fire. 

Why we need to ban BBQs and fires

On average, Dorset is subject to 107 heathland and forest wildfires a year. Most of these never make the headlines, but they’re happening and not just in the summer. Sadly, it’s usually us who are to blame, whether deliberately or not. 

Campfires and disposable BBQs can often be the cause, so it’s important we never light a fire of any kind in these protected places. 

Our lowland heathland habitat is rarer on the planet than tropical rainforest, so any that’s destroyed has a devastating impact on our wildlife and everyone who lives near to or visits the heaths. In some areas our own homes are also put at risk. 

What we're doing to prevent wildfires

Organisations and businesses are working to help prevent wildfires in Dorset. 

Dorset Council has a disposable BBQ and campfire policy in place to ban disposable BBQs and the lighting of campfires at Dorset Council country parks and land that is at high risk of fire. Signs on site and local staff will also make you aware when you visit these areas. 

See areas where BBQs and campfires are banned on our interactive map.

Dorset Open Land (Number 2) Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)  

Dorset Council is looking to adopt an order banning the lighting of BBQs, campfires or any other fires on areas of forest and heathland in the Parishes of:

• Affpuddle
• Alderholt
• Arne
• Bere Regis
• Corfe
• Corfe Mullen
• East Holme
• East Stoke
• Ferndown
• Holt
• Lytchett Minster and Upton
• Moreton
• Portesham
• Puddletown
• St Leonards and St Ives
• Steeple
• Stinsford
• Studland
• Verwood
• Wareham St Martin
• West Moors
• Winfrith Newburgh
• Winterbourne Steepleton
• Wool

Find out more about Dorset Open Land (Number 2) Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2025.

High visibility road signs in high risk areas 

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) put yellow High Fire Risk road signs along key roads across Dorset when there is a high wildfire risk. Look out for them and support the message. 

Read fire safety information from DWFRS: 

• tips on wildfire prevention and safety measures 
• fire safety outdoors 
• guide on how to BBQ safely 

Education, patrols and signs at heathland areas

The education team at the Dorset Heaths Partnership works year round to highlight the dangers and effects of fires on heathlands. 

During the winter months they go into schools and deliver their Arson Courtroom Drama, a role playing scenario which engages the students directly with the events around a heath fire. 

During summer term, the focus is on taking groups out onto the heath to engage them with the special habitat and wildlife that’s on their doorstep. 

Should there be a heath fire close to a school, the team will go in and deliver the ‘hot strike’ video. This gives detail on the real impact these fires have and how we can prevent them. 

During the peak season, ‘no fires or BBQs’ banners go up around the sites and wardens patrol key areas. 

Firewise community project

The Firewise project works with communities close to heathlands to raise awareness and reduce the risk to their properties. It gives helpful, practical steps people can take around their homes and gardens, and delivers it directly to where it’s needed. 

Firewise has teamed up with Dorset Dogs and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service to create the K9 Firewise Patrol. This is a team of trained volunteer dog owners who help keep the heathlands safe from wildfires whilst out walking. They are valuable, additional eyes and ears on the ground for anything suspicious. 

Stopping the sale of disposable BBQs

Litter Free Dorset are encouraging supermarkets to stop selling disposable BBQs this summer. They have had meetings with supermarkets such as Tesco and Co-op. Aldi and Waitrose have already removed disposable BBQs from their stores in Dorset.

They are talking to retailers about having an age restriction on items such as disposable BBQs.

See the latest list of shops removing disposable BBQs.

How you can help

To support this campaign, you can:

• ask your local shops to support this campaign and give them a ‘We have chosen to remove’ poster for shops
• put up a 'no BBQs or campfires' sign on your land
• never light a fire or use a BBQ in areas that are high fire risk or where there are signs saying no BBQs or fires
• let others know about the ban and wildfire risk if you see them having a BBQ or lighting a fire in a high risk area