The New Forest wildfire is still burning more than a day after families were forced to abandon their cars and walk to safety on a dual carriageway.It comes as the Government announced that nearly three quarters of England is in drought, after the country experienced its driest July on record, with a fifth heatwave and scant rain forecast for the week ahead.The fire spread from a van on the A31 near Ringwood, Hampshire, on to protected heathland and is still burning today, with smoke visible 30 miles away in Portsmouth.Police urged drivers to leave their cars if they wanted to 'stay alive' as the road was cleared yesterday afternoon to avoid the vehicles becoming 'bombs'.Some 23 cars were abandoned, with mothers wheeling children in prams among those forced to evacuate.At one point 26 fire engines were battling to bring the flames under control, with crews unbolting the central reservation to get vehicles off the road.The emergency services had received more than 160 calls relating to the fire just before 5.30pm.Hampshire Police confirmed there are still more than 120 firefighters battling the blaze amid fears it could spread furhter.The fire has affected 247 acres - one square kilometre - of heathland, which is being monitored with the help of police drones. It comes during a record-breaking dry spell in England, with 27million people subject to a hosepipe ban and a sixth heatwave of the year set to arrive later this week.Further areas are set to be placed into an official drought today - which is declared when an area has gone more than 50 days without rain.The area hit by the blaze is protected heathland which is home to a number of rare species including reptiles, according to the New Forest National Park Authority. Drone footage shows extensive damage to the New Forest area The New Forest wildfire is still burning more than a day after families were forced to abandon their cars and walk to safety on a dual carriageway Drivers were ordered to abandon their vehicles and walk down the side of the road as the fire raged on the A31 in Hampshire yesterday