Crews are working to tackle a “devastating” blaze across internationally protected heathland in the New Forest National Park, an area “rarer than rainforests”.
The area hit by the fire began burning after a vehicle caught light on the nearby A31, spreading into protected heathland which provides a home for several rare species, according to the New Forest National Park Authority.
“It’s rare heathland which globally is more rare than rainforest with lots of rare species,” a spokeswoman said.
“We have the highest concentration of lowland heathland in western Europe and it’s internationally protected.
“It is home to all six UK native reptiles, Dartford warblers, nightjars, insects – it’s devastating.”
The spokeswoman added that assessing the full scale of damage remains impossible at present because emergency responses to the incident are ongoing.
Twenty-six fire engines and four water carries were initially at the site near Ringwood on Sunday evening, which was scaled down to 10 on Monday.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service received more than 160 emergency calls reporting a vehicle on fire on the eastbound A31 at about 5.24pm on Sunday.
The fire service said the blaze spread from the vehicle to the central reservation before progressing into nearby heathland in a south-easterly direction towards Backley Bottom, and is in a “challenging rural location”.
On Monday, it said: “Firefighters continue to tackle the fire affecting heathland near the A31 and will remain on site for the foreseeable future.
“We continue to have a significant presence in the area as crews work to bring the fire under control.”
In an update, the service added: “The smoke, which was clearly visible across the area and from both sides of the Solent yesterday, has reduced significantly.
“Some smoke remains visible locally, but it is now much less widespread.
“We currently have 10 fire engines and 10 off-road vehicles at the scene, with crews continuing to work in challenging conditions.”
The fire service has warned people living nearby that it may need to lay hoses across their property as it draws water from a nearby lake.
The statement continued: “Firefighters are also laying a high-volume pump (HVP) system across Ringwood to provide a reliable and sustainable supply of water to crews tackling the fire.
“The fire is in a challenging rural location, where maintaining a steady water supply can be difficult.
“The HVP system allows us to move large amounts of water over a longer distance, helping crews maintain a continuous supply while they work to bring the fire under control.
“People in and around Ringwood may see firefighters and equipment involved in laying the system.
“This is an important part of our response and will help support firefighting operations at the scene. Please do not drive over the hose as this could cause damage and result in loss of water.”
The statement added: “At present, there is no need for any properties to be evacuated. Should this situation change, affected households will be contacted directly.”
Motorists have been urged to avoid the area and use alternative routes whenever possible.
A local resident said the fire was understood to have started in a lorry close to Picket Post services on the A31.
Sue Bassett, a worker at a Shell garage at the services, said the road and petrol station had been shut, but the fire had moved away from the carriageway.
She said: “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.
“There are lots of firefighters, they are pumping water up from the lakes, they are having to run out pipes over the carriageway so they can’t open up the road.”
She added: “It’s almost scary with the rivers running low on water, it’s a challenge.”
Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident on Sunday as two large fires in woodland put a strain on resources.
Several wildfires have broken out in the UK over recent weeks, including large blazes at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, Llanwonno in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.
Hot weather continued to build on Sunday, with the south and south-eastern parts of England expected to have the highest temperatures.
According to the Fire Severity Index, any wildfires are likely to be exceptionally severe on Sunday in almost all of the east and south-east of England.
“Exceptional” severity is the highest ranking.
