Police instructed drivers to abandon their vehicles on Sunday afternoon as a fire that began with a van rapidly spread along the A31 dual carriageway in Hampshire, England. The flames ignited dry vegetation alongside the road, creating a wildfire that prompted urgent safety warnings.
Traffic was brought to a standstill, and authorities directed motorists to the central reservation, with one officer stating, "We want all the cars and people off the carriageway. Unattended cars are basically bombs when they go off." Another police figure was heard telling drivers to leave their cars "if you want to stay alive."
The incident began when a van caught fire on the road, with its flames quickly spreading to the adjacent "tinderbox bracken." Fire officials described the blaze as out of control, estimating it would not be extinguished until at least the following day. The driver of the van is believed to have escaped uninjured.
Hundreds of drivers were stranded as the fire expanded across both sides of the carriageway, approximately one mile from the Canadian War Memorial. Witnesses described the fire spreading with alarming speed, with some drivers attempting to pass through flames while others performed emergency stops and tried to reverse.
Libbi Aldred, a motorist who was on the dual carriageway, reported that cars ahead of her began to slow down and activate hazard lights due to the fire in the road. She observed smoke and large flames engulfing the area. Aldred recounted how another driver, who had grandchildren in his car, saw flames reaching other vehicles that passed through the blaze.
Initially, some drivers attempted to turn around and head for the previous exit, but police instructed them to remain in their vehicles. However, as the flames advanced, Aldred and others chose to disregard this advice and evacuate their cars.
As the situation escalated, police arrived on the scene, ordering drivers out of their cars, and fire engines were dispatched to combat the rapidly spreading fire. The wind contributed to the fire's rapid movement into the roadside vegetation. The area experienced temperatures exceeding 30C on Sunday, creating dry conditions conducive to the fire's spread.
While awaiting evacuation and guidance from authorities, some stranded motorists were seen passing the time by playing football on the tarmac. Hampshire police and the county's fire service were contacted for comment on the incident. 
