Overview
- A vehicle caught fire on the eastbound A31 on Sunday evening and flames spread into the central reservation and neighbouring New Forest heath, affecting roughly 1 square kilometre of vegetation.
- Firefighters mounted a major multi-agency response with about 26 pumping appliances, multiple water carriers and specialist off-road units to tackle the blaze.
- Crews laid a high-volume pump line drawing water from Hightown Lake and ran kilometres of hose to supply operations, using drones to locate and prioritise remaining hotspots.
- The A31 remains closed until further notice because of fire damage to the carriageway and safety fencing, and police have asked owners of about 23 abandoned vehicles to call 101 to arrange recovery.
- No injuries have been reported, but Forestry England and New Forest authorities warned the burn has hit protected lowland heath that supports rare species and warned recovery could be slow, with ecological assessments under way.