Early evening on Saturday 23 a wildfire swept across Canford Heath in Poole, decimating 16.5 hectares.
Around 80 firefighters eventually managed to get the blaze under control by around 10pm but were hampered by high winds and the tinder dry vegetation.
The flames came very close to houses and approximately 20 families had to be evacuated along with their pets to a nearby leisure centre.
Teams of volunteers and wardens have been out since, rescuing any live wildlife they find and collected and recording the dead. Many reptiles, especially, perished in the fire.
The cause of the incident is currently being investigated by Dorset Police and a fire investigation officer from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service group manager Graham Kewley said it was believed to have been started by a human act, but “likely to be reckless rather than any malicious act”.