Fire crews anticipate several more days of work to contain a wildfire in the New Forest, which started on Sunday, 9 August, when a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood. The fire covers an area of approximately 1.6 sq km (0.6 sq miles), with firefighters having dedicated almost 10,000 hours to the effort.
Crews are currently keeping the ground around the fire's edge wet and dousing lingering hot spots. The fire service stated that the remote heathland terrain and limited water access are making it a complex firefighting operation, despite the fire being fully surrounded on Saturday.
A section of the A31 westbound, between M27 junction 2 at Ower and the A338 at Ringwood, and eastbound, between the A338 and M27 junction 1 for Cadnam, remains closed. This road closure is expected to last until at least Thursday to allow for resurfacing, barrier repairs, and fence replacement. Drivers are advised to follow diversion routes and disregard Satnav instructions.
Forestry England car parks, roads, and walking and cycling routes around Bratley View and Bolderwood are also closed. The National Fire Chiefs Council chair, Phil Carrigan, noted that recent weather changes have helped reduce wildfires but crews are still dealing with a "significant number" across various regions, including Hampshire.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged the public to take seriously a recent mobile phone alert warning against lighting anything that could spark a wildfire, such as barbecues and garden incinerators, stating it was triggered at the request of firefighters.