Sandbanks chain ferry helps with fire at Studland

On 12 August a large fire broke out on the Studland Heath nature reserve on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, attended to by 90 firefighters from the local area.

The 1994-built Sandbanks chain ferry Bramble Bush Bay, which operates across the mouth of Poole Harbour, suspended normal services to transport emergency vehicles across from Sandbanks, while also carrying tourists and their vehicles who were being evacuated from Studland back to Sandbanks.

Some tourists without vehicles were also able to return to Poole on City Cruises’ vessels from Swanage.

Photo and report by Kevin Mitchell