A wildfire that has burned across the New Forest for a week has been brought under control, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said. Crews have logged almost 10,000 hours tackling the blaze, which began when a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday 9 August 2026 and spread into surrounding heathland, forcing 23 drivers to abandon their vehicles.
Assistant chief fire officer Rob Cole gave an update on Friday evening, cautioning that the operation was not yet finished.
I'm pleased to say we are getting on top of this. However there are many days of work ahead of us to ensure that this fire doesn't spread when the wind blows or when other hotspots start to occur.
How large was the affected area?
HIWFRS put the burned area at approximately 1.6 sq km (0.6 sq miles). However, separate reporting has cited differing figures for the same incident: a national broadcaster's report put the affected area at around 165 acres in the Ringwood and Stoney Cross area of the New Forest National Park, while the New Forest National Park Authority said the incident had affected more than 100 hectares of heathland. The discrepancy likely reflects the fire's fluctuating perimeter over the course of the week rather than a single confirmed measurement.
How many firefighters and resources were involved?
Cole said the scale of the fire required round-the-clock deployment.
It includes such a vast area we've had so have so many firefighters fighting this fire 24/7.
HIWFRS said 169 fire appliances from 93 fire stations had attended over the course of the incident. According to a national broadcaster's earlier update, more than 120 firefighters were involved at points during the response, with crews from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service supporting Hampshire teams in the incident's early stages. Forestry England was separately quoted as describing the fire as under control while crews prepared for a larger-scale operation to suppress remaining hotspots.
Why was a mobile alert issued?
On Friday evening the UK's mobile phone alert system was used to warn the public against lighting anything that could spark further wildfires, including barbecues and garden incinerators. Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged people to take the warning seriously, saying it had been issued at the request of firefighters.
How did the fire start and progress?
The blaze originated with a vehicle fire on the A31 that then spread into heathland, prompting an overnight closure of the road and a multi-agency response involving crews from Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, as detailed in our earlier coverage of the initial outbreak. By the fourth day, the fire had already burned around 1 sq km of heathland amid record dry conditions, as reported in our report on the fourth day of firefighting. A national broadcaster's live coverage on day six noted the affected area had stopped growing and the fire's perimeter was under control.
What happens next?
National Highways has confirmed the A31 will remain closed in both directions between the M27 and the A338 until at least Thursday 20 August 2026. The organisation said the closure reflects the scale of repairs needed, including replacement of at least 1,000 metres of boundary fencing, resurfacing of the road surface, and reinstatement of several hundred metres of vehicle restraint barrier damaged by the fire, according to National Highways. Repair crews cannot begin work, the agency said, until firefighters confirm the road is safe to access, according to a further update.
Key Facts
- The fire began with a van fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday 9 August 2026 and spread into New Forest heathland.
- HIWFRS logged almost 10,000 hours of firefighting, with 169 appliances from 93 stations attending.
- Estimates of the burned area range from 1.6 sq km (HIWFRS) to 165 acres and over 100 hectares in separate reports.
- A mobile alert was issued warning against barbecues and garden incinerators amid ongoing fire risk.
- The A31 will stay closed until at least Thursday 20 August 2026 for safety inspections and repairs.
