Firefighters worked through the night to extinguish a heathland fire that erupted on the A31 near Ringwood, Hampshire, on Sunday evening. The blaze began when a van caught fire shortly after 5:20 p.m. BST, with flames quickly spreading to nearby verges and trees, creating a smoke plume visible for miles.
In response to the escalating situation, 26 fire crews were dispatched to the scene, supported by water carriers and specialist off-road units. The intensity of the fire led to the closure of the A31 in both directions. National Highways reported that the westbound carriageway remained closed between M27 junction 2 for Ower and the A338 at Ringwood. The eastbound carriageway was also closed between the A338 and M27 junction 1 for Cadnam.
Motorists were advised to avoid the area, and some drivers were forced to abandon their vehicles as the fire spread rapidly.
The incident caused significant disruption to traffic and prompted a large-scale response from emergency services to contain the fire and prevent further spread within the ecologically sensitive New Forest area.