A vehicle fire on the A31 near Ringwood in Hampshire's New Forest spread into the central reservation and then into surrounding heathland on Sunday evening, prompting a large-scale response from fire crews and forcing the closure of the road in both directions. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said 26 fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze, which began as a single vehicle fire before escalating, and crews continued working through the night to bring it under control.
The fire service said it had logged more than 160 emergency calls reporting the initial vehicle fire on the A31 eastbound at around 17:20 BST. According to the Daily Echo, the blaze was first reported at 5:24pm, and firefighters initially attempted to contain it using two hose reels before flames took hold of vegetation in the central reservation. A separate radio outlet's report, carried by LBC, corroborated this timeline, confirming that the original call came in at about 5:24pm on Sunday and that more than 160 emergency calls were logged in total.
What roads have been closed and how bad is the traffic?
The A31 has been shut in both directions between Picket Post and junction two of the M27, with National Highways describing the closure as running between M27 junction two and the A338, according to National Highways' live travel updates. The Daily Echo also reported that the A31 had been closed at junction one of the M27, with the M27 itself shut from junction two as emergency crews worked to bring the fire under control. Long queues built up in the area, and drivers were urged to allow extra time and follow diversion signs, per the same report.
A Hampshire Roads Policing Unit update cited by the Daily Echo said some members of the public had removed sections of the central barriers themselves, allowing motorists trapped in gridlocked traffic to turn around and find alternative routes rather than wait for official diversions.
How are drivers being diverted around the closure?
Motorists travelling westbound are being diverted onto the A327 towards Ashurst Bridge and then onto the A338 to the Ashley Heath roundabout to rejoin the A31, while eastbound traffic is being diverted onto the A338 towards Bournemouth. The closure has been described consistently as running between Picket Post and junction two of the M27, matching earlier reports from National Highways and the Daily Echo.
How far has the smoke from the fire travelled?
The scale of the blaze meant its smoke plume was visible well beyond the immediate area, with sightings reported as far away as Swanage and Southampton, according to the Daily Echo. Smoke was also reported drifting across both sides of the Solent, prompting fire crews to urge nearby residents to keep their doors and windows shut. This indicates the fire's reach extended significantly beyond the stretch of road that was closed, and motorists in the wider region were advised to avoid the area, a message echoed in live traffic coverage that placed the closure near Ringwood.
How is water being supplied to firefighting crews?
According to a BBC News report, a large hose was laid from Hightown Lake, just east of Ringwood, to supply water to crews tackling the blaze. In some areas the hose crosses tracks and passes through private property, and residents have been urged not to drive over it, as doing so could damage the pipe and disrupt the water supply needed to fight the fire.
Has this part of the A31 caught fire before?
This is not the first time this stretch of road has been disrupted by fire. A separate blaze on the A31 near the Ashley Heath roundabout had already caused delays earlier in the same period, according to GB News. Hampshire fire service records also describe an earlier vehicle fire on the Hampshire-Dorset border in which crews used breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet and a dry powder extinguisher to extinguish a roadside blaze, according to Hampshire fire service. Heathland fires have also featured elsewhere in the region this summer, including a large gorse blaze at Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, which required a helicopter water-drop to help bring under control, and a later peat-fed blaze at the same site that destroyed about nine hectares of heathland over five days. A major wildfire also broke out at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, where around 90 firefighters were deployed after a major incident was declared.
Who else is responding to the fire, and what is at stake environmentally?
Crews from across Hampshire were joined by colleagues from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, alongside four water carriers, six off-road vehicles and multiple command vehicles. The scale of the deployment reflects both the initial vehicle fire and its subsequent spread into the central reservation and heathland. The New Forest is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including wild ponies, deer, rare birds, reptiles and insects that live in its woodland, heathland and wetlands, underscoring the environmental sensitivity of the area affected by the blaze.
What happens next?
As of the latest travel updates, National Highways continued to list the closure as an active incident with delays expected, suggesting drivers should anticipate further disruption until the scene is fully cleared. A regional traffic bulletin also indicated the A31 remained closed eastbound while crews continued dealing with the aftermath, meaning a full reopening had not yet been confirmed. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said it would provide further updates when more information becomes available, and reiterated its request for drivers to follow diversion signs and allow extra time, implying the closure would remain in place until crews have fully secured the scene.
Key Facts
- 26 fire engines responded to the vehicle fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday evening.
- More than 160 emergency calls were made reporting the blaze at around 17:20 BST, with the original call logged at about 5:24pm.
- The A31 was closed in both directions between Picket Post and M27 junction two, with reports of additional closures at M27 junctions one and two.
- Smoke from the fire was reported visible as far away as Swanage and Southampton, and drifted across the Solent, prompting advice to keep doors and windows shut.
- A large hose was laid from Hightown Lake to supply water to crews, with residents urged not to drive over it where it crosses tracks and private property.
- Crews from Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire fire services attended, along with four water carriers and six off-road vehicles.
