New Forest Heathland Blaze Prompts Major Fire Service Response
Van fire on A31 near Ringwood escalates into significant heathland incident, closing major road.
Callum Smith
A van fire on the A31 near Ringwood, Hampshire, escalated into a significant heathland blaze on Sunday.
Firefighters established a continuous water supply, laying a large hose from Hightown Lake to support their efforts. A local resident claims the fire is understood to have started in a lorry close to Picket Post services on the A31, with the van driver thought to have escaped.
Police advised motorists to 'leave your cars if you want to stay alive,' urging those who abandoned vehicles to contact 101 with their number plate details. Twenty-three vehicles were reportedly left behind by motorists and subsequently moved by police.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed crews "continue to tackle the fire affecting heathland near the A31 and will remain on site for the foreseeable future." The service maintains a "significant presence in the area as crews work to bring the fire under control."
At present, no properties require evacuation; Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service states, "Should this situation change, affected households will be contacted directly." The affected area is protected heathland, home to rare species.
It’s rare heathland which globally is more rare than rainforest with lots of rare species.
A New Forest National Park Authority spokeswoman noted, "It’s rare heathland which globally is more rare than rainforest with lots of rare species." The spokeswoman added, "We have the highest concentration of lowland heathland in western Europe and it’s internationally protected."
She further explained, "It is home to all six UK native reptiles, Dartford warblers, nightjars, insects – it’s devastating." Smoke from the wildfire was visible from 30 miles away in Portsmouth.
Significant damage to the road surface, road safety barrier, and boundary fencing on the A31 is evident. A National Highways spokesman confirmed, "There is significant damage to the road surface, road safety barrier and boundary fencing as a result of the fire and a subsequent oil spillage from the burnt-out vehicle."
England is experiencing a record-breaking drought, with 27 million people under a hosepipe ban and over 50 days without rain. Exceptional fire severity was predicted for almost all of east and south-east England on the day of the incident.
The summer of 2026 has already included two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June, leading to over 2,800 excess deaths. July 2026 was the driest July in England and Wales since records began in 1836, with heatwave conditions expected to return later in the week, potentially reaching 36C.
Sue Bassett described the challenging conditions, stating, "It’s almost scary with the rivers running low on water, it’s a challenge." Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service reported, "There are more than 120 firefighters on the scene battling the heat and arduous terrain, in order to prevent further fire spread."
Forestry England commented on the broader impact, saying, "Incidents like this can be devastating to all of the things that make the New Forest so special." They added, "Our team will be carefully assessing the impact once the incident is fully resolved."