A major wildfire has broken out near the A31 in Hampshire, with more than 20 fire engines battling the blaze. The road is closed in both directions, and the closure is expected to continue into Monday.
Drivers were told to abandon their vehicles and run for their lives as a vehicle blaze on the A31 wreaked havoc. Police urged drivers to evacuate and abandon their cars.
Fire erupts on eastbound carriageway
More than 20 fire engines are battling the inferno that erupted on the road just after 5.24pm on Sunday. The public made in excess of 160 calls reporting the fire on the eastbound carriageway, leading to motorists abandoning their vehicles on the road to escape the flames.
Firefighters continue to combat the fire, with the road anticipated to remain shut for the remainder of the day. The road is blocked in both directions. The westbound carriageway is closed between the M27 J2 (Ower) and the A338 (Ringwood).
Drivers describe panic and chaos
The eastbound carriageway is shut between the A338 and M27 J1 (Cadnam). Barbara, who found herself stranded on the A31 on Sunday, described the situation to the Bournemouth Echo as 'horrendous'. She stated: "We had to pull over and stop. 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."
One motorist posted online: "We were lucky. The traffic came to a standstill and the police were running down the dual carriageway and telling us to turn around immediately. It was coming towards us."
Some drivers reportedly 'drove straight through the flames' when the fire ignited. One driver commented: "It happened so fast. Some drivers just went straight through the flames. Others did emergency stops, turned around and tried to get back along the carriageway. It was sheer panic."
Road closure expected to extend into Monday
Motorists have voiced their worries about retrieving their vehicles as it appears some individuals managed to turn around and get home without having to abandon their cars. According to the fire and rescue service, the A31 remains shut, with the closure anticipated to extend into Monday.
Hampshire fire teams, backed by colleagues from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, are currently responding to the incident. A total of 26 fire engines, four water carriers, six off-road vehicles and multiple command vehicles are at the scene.
A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue stated: "Firefighters continue to tackle the fire affecting heathland near the A31 and will remain on site for the foreseeable future. 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."
