New Forest Heathland Fire Prompts Road Closures and Smoke Warnings
Firefighters work through the night after a van fire spreads to heathland in the New Forest.
L'essentiel
Firefighters worked through the night tackling a major heathland fire in the New Forest after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood, causing road closures and smoke plumes visible across the Solent.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
A van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood, spreading flames to nearby heathland in the New Forest.
Firefighters have worked through the night after a van caught fire and the flames spread to heathland in the New Forest, creating a smoke plume visible for miles.
The fire broke out on the A31 near Ringwood, Hampshire, shortly after 17:20 BST on Sunday, forcing some motorists to abandon their vehicles.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said crews in 10 fire engines and 10 off-road vehicles were continuing to work to bring the fire under control "in challenging conditions".
National Highways said the dual carriageway remained closed westbound between the M27 at junction 2 for Ower and the A338 at Ringwood and eastbound between the A338 and M27 junction 1 for Cadnam.
Smoke from the fire drifted across both sides of the Solent, prompting fire crews to urge people to keep doors and windows shut.
The fire service said a large hose had been 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.
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.
On Sunday, 26 fire crews alongside water carriers and specialist off-road units were sent to the scene as the flames quickly spread.
The fire service said the blaze travelled south-easterly from the A31 towards Backley Bottom.
Questions ouvertes
- What caused the initial van fire?
- When will the A31 reopen?
