Vehicle fire shuts stretch of A31 as fire crews combat blaze
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service says it is currently tackling the blaze on the A31.
A vehicle fire on the A31 near Ringwood in the New Forest has led to a shutdown of the road in both directions between the Picket Post and junction two of the M27. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service reported that over 160 emergency calls were received regarding the initial incident on the eastbound A31 around 17:20 BST on Sunday evening.
This prompted a significant response, with 26 fire engines joining the effort, along with four water carriers, six off-road vehicles, and numerous command vehicles. Firefighters are currently battling the blaze, which has not only engulfed the vehicle but also spread into the central reservation and the surrounding heathland in the New Forest. Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes to avoid the closed area.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.