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Firefighters in southern England are waging a multi-day battle against a “devastating” wildfire that has scorched more than 100 hectares of internationally protected lowland heathland in the New Forest National Park. The blaze, which triggered more than 160 emergency calls Sunday evening, originated from a vehicle fire on the eastbound A31 near Ringwood and quickly spread into the surrounding rare ecosystem.
According to the New Forest National Park Authority, the affected heathland is globally rarer than rainforests and hosts a remarkable concentration of wildlife. “It’s home to all six UK native reptiles, Dartford warblers, nightjars, and countless insect species,” a spokesperson said Monday. “This is devastating.”
The fire’s remote location — a challenging rural area off the A31 near Backley Bottom — has complicated suppression efforts. As of Monday afternoon, 10 fire engines and 13 off-road vehicles remained on scene, down from the initial 26 engines and four water carriers deployed Sunday night. More than 120 firefighters are working in arduous terrain, with drones from Hampshire Police providing aerial monitoring of the fire’s spread.
The fire service has laid a high-volume pump (HVP) system across Ringwood, drawing water from a nearby lake to maintain a continuous supply. Crews are running hoses over the carriageway, which has forced the continued closure of the A31. “People in and around Ringwood may see firefighters and equipment involved in laying the system,” the service said. “Please do not drive over the hose as this could cause damage and result in loss of water.”
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the fire spread from the vehicle to the central reservation before advancing southeast into the heathland. No evacuations have been ordered, but residents have been warned that hoses may cross their property as firefighters tap into the lake. Motorists are urged to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
The impact on the heathland is expected to be severe. Forestry England, which manages the area, stated that the fire has affected over 100 hectares, including Bratley Wood and a surrounding area that holds a Canadian war memorial. “Incidents like this can be devastating to all of the things that make the New Forest so special,” a Forestry England spokesperson said. “Our team will be carefully assessing the impact once the incident is fully resolved.”
A local resident told the BBC that the fire likely started in a lorry near the Picket Post services on the A31. Sue Bassett, a worker at a Shell garage at the services, described the scene: “The smoke is visible from here, you can see smoke from miles around, it’s still going strong in the forest but not leaping on to the road. They are having to run out pipes over the carriageway so they can’t open up the road.”
The fire comes amid a series of wildfires across the UK in recent weeks, including blazes at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, Llanwonno in South Wales, and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. The Fire Severity Index for Sunday ranked most of eastern and southeastern England at “exceptional” severity — the highest level.
National Highways reported significant damage to the road surface, safety barriers, and boundary fencing due to the fire and an oil spill from the burned-out vehicle. “The road is likely to be closed throughout the day, and at this stage there is no estimated time for reopening,” a spokesman said.
Hampshire Constabulary added that 23 vehicles abandoned by motorists on Sunday have been moved by police; owners are asked to call 101 to reclaim them.
The lowland heathland ecosystem in the New Forest is internationally recognized under the European Union’s Habitats Directive and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Similar ecosystems exist in the United States — for example, the pine barrens of New Jersey and the coastal heathlands of Cape Cod — but the New Forest’s lowland heath is the largest remaining tract in Western Europe. “Globally, this type of habitat is more rare than rainforest,” the park authority emphasized.
According to the UK Met Office, hot weather continued to build Sunday, with the south and southeast of England expected to see the highest temperatures. The Fire Severity Index indicated that any wildfires in the region would be exceptionally severe.
As of Monday evening, the fire was not yet fully contained. The fire service plans to maintain at least 10 appliances and 13 off-road vehicles until midnight, with the possibility of a longer commitment. “We are grateful for the support from our neighboring fire services, as well as others from across the country who are working alongside our firefighters with specialist vehicles and equipment,” the service said.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of these rare habitats to human-caused ignitions, even from seemingly minor sources like a vehicle fire. With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts in the UK, experts warn that such events may become more common.
For now, the focus remains on extinguishing the flames and preventing further damage. “It’s almost scary with the rivers running low on water, it’s a challenge,” Bassett said.
