A vehicle fire on the A31 in Hampshire has spread to nearby heathland, forcing police to urge motorists to abandon their cars and flee. More than 20 fire engines are battling the blaze, which broke out just after 5.24pm on Sunday, with the road now closed in both directions.
Blaze spreads rapidly
The fire started on the eastbound carriageway and quickly spread to the central reservation before moving into the heathland. Members of the public made more than 160 calls reporting the fire, as drivers were forced to leave their vehicles on the road to escape the flames.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) received the first reports at approximately 5:24pm. Crews from across Hampshire, supported by colleagues from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, are currently on scene, with 26 fire engines, four water carriers, six off-road vehicles, and multiple command vehicles deployed.
Road closures and diversions
The A31 is closed in both directions. The westbound carriageway is shut between the M27 J2 (Ower) and the A338 (Ringwood), while the eastbound carriageway is closed between the A338 and M27 J1 (Cadnam). National Highways has said there are no delays on approach and no estimate for reopening at this time.
Diversion routes are in place for both directions. Westbound traffic should exit the M27 at J2 onto the A327 towards Ashurst Bridge, then join the A35 southbound through Ashurst, Lyndhurst, Allum Green, Hinton Admiral, and Christchurch, before rejoining the A31 via the A338. Eastbound traffic should follow the reverse route via the A338 and A35.
Residents urged to stay indoors
Fire services have urged local residents to keep doors and windows closed as smoke spreads across the area. Hampshire County Council also advised people near the fire to switch off ventilation or air conditioning that draws in air from outside.
HIWFRS said: "Our Control Room are still receiving a large number of calls reporting smoke from the A31 fire, spreading to areas across both sides of the Solent - if you are affected, please close your doors and windows."
Eyewitness accounts
Drivers described scenes of panic as the fire spread. One motorist told the Bournemouth Echo: "It was horrendous. The fire was spreading. You could feel the heat inside the car. We didn't know what had happened and the smoke was pretty awful."
Another driver recalled: "It was scary. They made us leave our cars and walk across the A31 eastbound. We were out for about 90 minutes." Some drivers reportedly "went straight through the flames" as the fire broke out, while others did emergency stops and turned around.
Ongoing operation
Firefighters are expected to remain on site for the foreseeable future. A spokesperson for HIWFRS said: "We continue to have a significant presence in the area as crews work to bring the fire under control.
"Fires in the countryside can be particularly challenging for firefighters, especially when it comes to getting sufficient water to the incident. To support our firefighting operations, we plan to use a high-volume pump to draw water from Hightown Lake in Ringwood and transport it to the incident."
Local residents may have their properties affected as the fire service will need to pass through their homes to tackle the blaze. The service said: "This operation will involve laying a significant length of hose between Hightown Lake and the fire. In some locations, hoses may need to pass across or through private properties to reach the incident. Residents whose properties may be affected will be contacted directly by our crews."
Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue in the area, with temperatures forecast to reach 27C and a less than 5% chance of rainfall, raising concerns about wildfire risk.
