The Hampshire A31 van blaze began when a lorry caught fire at Ringwood at about 5.21pm on Sunday evening. The fire spread into the New Forest and was still burning on Tuesday, with the A31 closed and crews working across the burned area.
More than 120 firefighters from stations across the country were trying to contain the blaze across more than 100 hectares of dried heathland. Hampshire fire and rescue service said it was facing difficult terrain, changing wind direction and the challenge of keeping a water supply in place.
Ringwood on Tuesday
Smoke billowed above the deserted A31 on Tuesday as firefighters dealt with several hotspots. A yellow high-pressure water pipe stretched 5 miles along the empty highway from a stream near the village to the blaze.
The road’s closure mattered because the A31 is the main tourist route into the New Forest. With the fire still active days after the lorry fire, travelers faced a continued shutdown while crews kept working along the roadside and across the heath.
Debbie Tann on dry heathland
Debbie Tann, chief executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: “It is devastating. It is just dry tinder across the whole forest. It has spread really quickly because of these dry conditions. The New Forest is one of the most important habitats in Europe. It has so m”
Her comments matched the conditions reported on the ground. The New Forest had not had rain for 59 days, and Hampshire fire and rescue service said it was using fire engines and off-road vehicles to damp down the edges and cool flare-up points.
Hotspots and peat
Firefighters were still trying to contain several hotspots across the burned area. Hampshire fire and rescue service said, “Thanks to the efforts of firefighters, we are managing to contain the fire.” It also said, “We have been using a mix of fire engines and off-road vehicles to damp down and cool the edges of the area … to prevent spread and escalation. The police drone is being used to enable us to prioritise hotspot areas and manage flare-ups.”
A source at the scene added a complication to that picture: “They are really worried that as they dampen down the top, the peat underneath is still alight and spreading the fire. It is too dry, too windy, and it is a real struggle.” The Met Office said on Tuesday that the UK was on course for its hottest summer on record by average temperature, and the National Fire Chiefs Council said July was the busiest month on record for wildfires, with fire services responding to 966 wildfires this year and 458 in July alone.
