A massive blaze tore through a precious nature reserve near the millionaire's resort of Sandbanks with motorists and day-trippers evacuated as the drought conditions spark chaos.
Around 70 firefighters battled the flames after the fire started close to known nudist beach Knoll Beach this afternoon. It spread through the tinder dry heath on Dorset's Studland peninsula.
The chain ferry which carries tourists to Studland was suspended as the fire - which could be seen on the other side of Poole Harbour - continued to rage.
Cars had to evacuate it so the ferry could carry across fire engines to tackle the blaze. Great flumes of smoke could be seen from Sandbanks on the other side of Poole Harbour.
A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said they advised people to evacuate the heath "for their own safety".
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They told the Mirror: "We are tackling a large heath fire at Studland and are asking people to stay off the heath and to avoid the area, especially Ferry Road.
"There are currently approx. 70 firefighters on scene – from Springbourne, Blandford, Poole, Westbourne, Christchurch, Wareham, Swanage, Bridport, Redhill Park, Verwood, Bere Regis, Shaftesbury, Wimborne and New Milton, plus water carriers from Ringwood and Eastleigh - with other resources on the way.
"Multiple jets and beaters are being used to try and bring the fire under control."
They added no major incident has been declared as yet - but this could change in the hours ahead.
Just yesterday a red alert for wildfires was issued across Dorset, sparked due to the dry weather and current heatwave.
At least four fire crews are at the scene, with more on their way, and people are being told to avoid the area.
The fire started at just after 1pm today.
Eyewitness Becky Wood said: "Within minutes we saw fire engines come up as well as an ambulance. The ferry was pretty much full and they had to get all the cars to reverse off the ferry in order to get the fire trucks and ambulance in to take them over.
"They've closed off the Poole side and there is no traffic allowed over to Swanage, they're just diverting traffic and clearing the area.
"It seems to be getting worse. At first we could just see the smoke as it was behind Shell Bay, but within 15 minutes it had spread down and we could see the flames. We were all shocked at how quickly the fire spread.
"It's best everyone avoids the area because I think they'll be working for a while."
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue's spokesman said: "We were called to Studland Heath at 1.12pm for a large fire involving undergrowth and gorse.
"We have crews from Springbourne, Poole, Westbourne and Swanage in attendance, with other resources on the way.
"We are asking people to leave the heath for their own safety, and to avoid Ferry Road."
Local buses have also had to suspend services as the fire rips through the nature reserve.
The ongoing dry conditions, combined with last month's record-breaking heatwave, have depleted rivers, reservoirs and aquifers and dried up soils, hitting agriculture, water supplies and wildlife and raising the risk of wildfires.
Firefighters have urged the public to help them prevent fires.
London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Jonathan Smith said he wanted to avoid scenes in July "where people lost their homes and livelihoods".
"In the first week of August last year, we attended 42 grassland and wildland fires, the same week this year we've attended 340," he told the BBC.
Eight areas of England are formally in a drought due to high temperatures and low rainfall.
Devon and Cornwall, Solent and South Downs, Kent, south London and East Sussex, Herts and north London, East Anglia, Thames, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, and the East Midlands are all in drought, according to the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs.
Members of the public and businesses in affected areas are being urged to use water wisely.
A drought is a prolonged period of water shortage, which occurs after long stretches of little or no rain.
"All water companies have reassured us that essential supplies are still safe," Water Minister Steve Double said in a statement.
"We are better prepared than ever before for periods of dry weather, but we will continue to closely monitor the situation, including impacts on farmers and the environment, and take further action as needed."
