Emergency responders battled through the night after a van fire on the A31 near Ringwood, Hampshire, ignited surrounding heathland in the New Forest. The incident, which began shortly after 17:20 BST on Sunday, generated a thick plume of smoke visible from great distances, even drifting across the Solent. Authorities advised local residents to keep windows and doors closed to avoid the smoke.
Twenty-six fire crews, supported by off-road vehicles and water carriers, were deployed to manage the situation. To ensure a continuous water supply, firefighters utilized a large hose drawing from Hightown Lake. Because this line crosses private land and public tracks, the fire service has strictly instructed motorists not to drive over the hose, as any damage could compromise the firefighting efforts.
The A31 remains shut in both directions between the M27 junction 2 at Ower and the A338 at Ringwood. Traffic diversions are currently in place. Drivers who were forced to abandon their vehicles due to the rapid spread of the fire should contact the police at 101 to provide their registration numbers for recovery assistance. The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service reported receiving over 160 emergency calls regarding the initial vehicle fire.
