Flames up to 35ft high engulfed 70 hectres of the St Catherine 's Hill nature reserve in Christchurch , Dorset . The fire was started by a lightning strike and spread quickly through the forest on Wednesday night before it reached the main road at around 1am local time (0900 GMT) forcing emergency services to close More than 80 firefighters spent six hours tackling the blaze which is thought to have wiped out thousands of animals . Dorset Police confirmed they are treating it as suspicious after evidence of three deliberate fires was discovered .
Flames up to 35ft high engulfed 70 hectres of the St Catherine 's Hill nature reserve in Christchurch , Dorset . A lack of rain combined with strong 45mph winds saw the blaze spread across the heathland dangerously quickly . More than 80 firefighters spent six hours tackling the blaze which is thought to have wiped out thousands of animals . Dorset Police confirmed they are treating it as suspicious after evidence of three deliberate fires was discovered .