A31 near Ringwood still closed after lorry fire spreads to New Forest heathland
The A31 near Ringwood remains closed in both directions after a lorry fire spread to New Forest heathland, with firefighters still tackling the blaze on Monday morning.
Yes. As of the morning of 10 August 2026, the A31 near Ringwood remained closed in both directions after a lorry fire near Poulner Hill spread to the central reservation and nearby New Forest heathland. Firefighters were still tackling the blaze, and a diversion route was in place for affected traffic.
A lorry fire near Poulner Hill has closed the A31 near Ringwood in both directions, after flames spread from the vehicle to the central reservation and surrounding heathland in the New Forest. The road was shut on Sunday evening, and as of the morning of 10 August it remained closed while firefighters continued to tackle the blaze. The fire began with a heavy goods vehicle that caught alight on the road, then spread to nearby verges, trees and heathland. According to reports, motorists were urged to abandon their vehicles as the fire advanced, and a diversion route was put in place for affected traffic. Reports suggest the closure covers the stretch between the A338 at Ringwood and the M27 junctions at Cadnam and Ower. The closure matters beyond Hampshire. The United Kingdom has suffered numerous wildfires this year, driven by record-breaking heatwaves, with over 23,359 hectares burnt by 10 August. The New Forest blaze is the latest in that run, and there is as yet no indication of when the A31 will reopen.
Lorry fire on Poulner Hill shuts the A31 in both directions
The fire began on Sunday evening when a heavy goods vehicle caught fire near Poulner Hill on the A31, close to Ringwood in Hampshire. What started as a vehicle fire did not stay contained. Flames spread from the lorry to the central reservation and then into the surrounding countryside, reaching verges, trees and heathland in the New Forest.
Police shut the A31 in both directions as the blaze took hold. According to reports, motorists caught on the road were urged to abandon their vehicles as the fire spread across the heathland, leaving drivers to get clear on foot while smoke and flames moved through the dry vegetation beside the carriageway.
The speed of the spread left little room for a partial closure. With fire on the road itself and in the land either side, both carriageways were closed to traffic, cutting a key route through the New Forest between Ringwood and the motorway network to the east.
The United Kingdom experienced numerous wildfires during 2026, driven by record-breaking heatwaves, with over 23,359 hectares burnt by 10 August.
A lorry or HGV caught fire near Poulner Hill on the A31 near Ringwood, and the fire spread to the central reservation and nearby heathland in the New Forest.
The A31 near Ringwood was closed in both directions after the vehicle fire spread to the central reservation and nearby heathland.
Motorists were urged to abandon their vehicles as the fire spread across heathland in the New Forest.
The A31 in the New Forest area of Hampshire remained closed in both directions following the heavy goods vehicle fire, which had spread to nearby verges, trees and heathland.
A diversion route was put in place for traffic affected by the closure while firefighters continued to tackle the heathland blaze.
The A31 remained closed in both directions between the A338 at Ringwood and the M27 junctions at Cadnam and Ower while firefighters continued to tackle the blaze.
Closure stretches into a second day as crews fight heathland blaze
The A31 near Ringwood stayed shut in both directions on the morning of 10 August 2026, a full day after the lorry fire broke out, with firefighters still working to bring the heathland blaze under control. Reports said the closure covered the stretch between the A338 at Ringwood and the M27 junctions at Cadnam and Ower, cutting one of the main routes through the New Forest.
The fire, which began when a heavy goods vehicle caught fire near Poulner Hill on Sunday evening, had spread to verges, trees and surrounding heathland. According to reports, a diversion route was put in place for affected traffic while crews continued to tackle the blaze. Motorists caught up in the incident on Sunday evening were reportedly urged to abandon their vehicles as the flames spread across the heathland. There was no confirmed word on when the road might reopen.
A wildfire season driven by record heatwaves
The blaze on the A31 is one of many wildfires to hit the United Kingdom during 2026. Record-breaking heatwaves have driven an exceptional season of fires across the country. By 10 August, more than 23,359 hectares had burnt.
The New Forest, with its dry heathland, is exactly the kind of terrain that has proved vulnerable this year. Once the lorry fire near Poulner Hill reached the verges and trees beside the carriageway, conditions allowed it to spread quickly into open heath.
That combination of extreme heat, parched vegetation and a single ignition point has been repeated across the country throughout the summer. Fire services have faced sustained pressure, and the Ringwood incident shows how a routine vehicle fire can escalate into a major wildfire when the ground itself is ready to burn.
What drivers still do not know
Several key questions remain unanswered. It is not yet known whether the A31 has reopened, or when that might happen. No information has been released on whether anyone was injured, either in the initial lorry fire or in the heathland blaze that followed. The cause of the vehicle fire near Poulner Hill is also unclear, as is the size of the area of New Forest heathland that has been burnt.
Drivers planning to use the route between Ringwood and the M27 should check for the latest updates from National Highways and local news outlets before setting out, rather than assuming the road has reopened. Conditions on heathland fires can change quickly, and official sources will carry the most current information on the closure and any diversions.
Frequently asked questions
Is the A31 still closed?
Yes. As of the morning of 10 August 2026, the A31 near Ringwood remained closed in both directions while firefighters continued to tackle the blaze. The road had been shut since Sunday evening after a vehicle fire spread to the central reservation and nearby heathland in the New Forest. There is no confirmed information yet on when it will reopen.
Why is the A31 closed near Ringwood?
The closure was caused by a fire involving a lorry or heavy goods vehicle that caught fire near Poulner Hill on Sunday evening. The blaze spread from the vehicle to the central reservation and then to surrounding verges, trees and heathland in the New Forest, forcing police to shut the road in both directions.
Which part of the A31 is closed?
The closure covers the A31 near Ringwood in the New Forest area of Hampshire. According to reports, the shut stretch runs between the A338 at Ringwood and the M27 junctions at Cadnam and Ower. A diversion route has reportedly been put in place for affected traffic, though drivers should check for the latest updates before travelling.
When did the A31 fire start?
The fire began on Sunday evening when a lorry or HGV caught fire near Poulner Hill. Flames spread to the central reservation and nearby heathland, and the road was closed in both directions that evening. It remained shut on the mornings of 9 and 10 August 2026 as firefighters continued to tackle the heathland blaze.
Is the New Forest fire part of the wider UK wildfires?
The fire comes during an extreme UK wildfire season in 2026, driven by record-breaking heatwaves. By 10 August, more than 23,359 hectares had burnt across the country. The New Forest blaze, which began with a vehicle fire and spread to heathland, is one of numerous wildfires to hit the UK this year.
Compiled from reporting by 2 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
