New Forest fire: Emergency services fight to contain blaze at popular National Park

Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleMore than 120 firefighters are continuing to tackle a devastating wildfire covering a one-square-kilometre area of internationally protected heathland in the New Forest National Park. The blaze began on Sunday after a vehicle caught fire on the eastbound A31 near Ringwood, spreading across the central reservation into challenging rural terrain towards Backley Bottom and Bratley Wood. New Forest National Park Authority experts warned that the destruction of this rare lowland heath habitat, home to all six UK reptile species and rare birds, could take decades to recover. Emergency services are using drones, 10 fire engines, and 13 off-road vehicles to monitor and contain the fire, drawing water from a nearby lake to prevent further spread. Road closures remain active on the A31 due to severe damage to the road surface, safety barriers, and fencing caused by the fire and an oil spillage, while police have recovered 23 vehicles abandoned by motorists. In fullNew Forest may take decades to recover from ‘devastating’ fire as more than 120 firefighters continue to battle blazeMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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