Steve Davis of Dorset Wildlife Trust describes the blaze
The biggest heath fire in Dorset for 35 years has been brought under control with fire crews damping down.
Homes were evacuated when strong winds caused the fire, over about five sq km (1,235 acres) of Upton Heath, Poole, to spread rapidly on Thursday.
Residents living nearby have described seeing a “wall of fire” as flames moved towards their homes.
Police are investigating reports of two youths, believed to be teenagers, seen running from the scene.
Resident Chris Jeans said: “I decided to check out the fire and I saw smoke approaching over my house.
“We saw it engulf the whole heath behind it, at one point, one of the electric cables exploded.
“You could really feel the heat across your face, it was quite intense.”
Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles around Jan Cornell said: “I was working in the garden, I wasn’t worried at first as it was right in the distance, but I came to have a look later and the wind was bringing it like a wall of fire.
“None of the phones were working, I bundled the pets in the car and got going.”
Her husband Dave added: “The fire officers were saying that if the wind had changed direction the house probably wouldn’t be here now.”
Four people were treated after breathing in smoke and one firefighter was taken to hospital with exhaustion.
Another firefighter suffered minor burns to his arm, during what the fire service said was Dorset’s biggest heath fire since 1976.
Dorset Wildlife Trust said the damage has put wildlife development in the area back about 25 years.
Steve Davis, from the trust, said it will have “massive implications”.
He added: “It’s not just the bigger animals that have been affected… it is the whole ecosystem, the insects, for example, would have been taken out by the smoke.
Residents have been allowed back home following the fire “The site is internationally important, it has all six species of British reptiles which are only found in a few selected locations in the south coast.”
Crews in 30 engines, 11 Land Rovers and other support vehicles were called to the heath at about 1400 BST on Thursday.
Homes in Beacon Road and Kingcup Close were among those evacuated. Properties in nearby Long Meadow Lane were also under threat at the height of the blaze.
About 20 to 25 firefighters remained at the scene overnight with more crews arriving in the morning to dampen down the area.
Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles around and at one point was blowing across parts of the A35.
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