Image source, New Forest - Forestry England

Ten Forestry England car parks around Bratley View and Bolderwood remain closed following the fire.

Two other car parks, Parc Pale and Bolton's Cricket, are temporarily closed while checks are carried out following a small fire on Wednesday.

Along with the A31, a number of other roads are also closed including Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Drive in Brockenhurst from the junction with the A35, and the Bolderwood Road west of Emery Down from the junction with the New Forest Inn.

Image source, HIWFRS

Messages of support continue to pour in for the firefighters battling the blaze.

Responding to the latest post from the fire service, external on social media, many expressed their thanks for the "tireless efforts" as firefighting in the New Forest enters its sixth day.

One person wrote: "Thank you all for your hard work and for keeping us safe. We really appreciate everything you do."

Another posted: "Thank you for keeping us safe and working around the clock. No words are enough, we are all extremely grateful."

Others expressed similar views, with many describing the crews as "heroes" and voiced concern for them being "exhausted".

Image source, PA Media

Crews have been drawn in from other parts of the country to help tackle the wildfire.

One example is Suffolk's fire service, whose union says it is proud to be able to help.

But posting on Facebook, it adds that the situation shows how "precarious" sending resources leaves its own county and that "more must be done" to ensure they have adequate protection.

The government has previously said fire services will be given the resources they need.

Smoke continues to affect large areas of the New Forest as changing winds carry it in different directions.

Hampshire County Council says: "People should avoid areas affected by smoke, but where you have to stay in the area - and there is no risk from spreading fire - the single most effective thing you can do is stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed".

The council adds that those driving through a smoky area should keep windows closed and use their vehicle's air recirculation setting if available.

The fire service has expressed its appreciation for all the support and refreshments being offered to firefighters.

It says they are being supported by the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) who are "doing a fantastic job providing food and drinks to keep crews going".

The Plymouth-based charity has volunteers cooking meals and providing drinks, snacks and a rest space at the side of the A31 for the firefighters to take a break.

Traffic is building on diversion routes around the closed A31 as the rush hour and weekend getaway starts.

The main alternative routes, the A35 and the A338/M27, are seeing delays in both directions.

The A31 remains closed because of the fire. Westbound, the closure is between the M27 at junction 2 for Ower and the A338 at Ringwood.

Eastbound, it is closed between the A338 and junction 1 of the M27 at Cadnam.

Temperatures are set to rise to about 31C in the New Forest again later.

No rain is expected in the coming days either.

Showers that had been forecast for Monday are now looking less likely, according to BBC Weather.

Amber heat health alerts,, external which warn of significant impacts to health and social care services, are already in force for all of England until 21:00 BST.

Image source, HIWFRS

In an update last night, the fire service said it expected its fifth night at the scene to be challenging, with changing winds causing smoke to drift in different directions across the area.

It said crews were still working to stop the fire spreading while dealing with flare-ups.

The fire, which has been burning for nearly six days, has affected a 1.6sq km (395-acre) area of heathland off the A31.

Hampshire County Council is urging people travelling near the fire to keep moving and not to stop to watch or take pictures.

Motorists are also being told to keep their windows closed because of the smoke, avoid sat nav shortcuts and leave roads and access points clear for emergency vehicles.

"If you have to travel in the area, allow extra time for your journey," the council says.

"Your support helps keep everyone safe and allows emergency responders to do their job effectively."

Image source, New Forest - Forestry England

Drivers are advised to follow the official signed diversion routes and not to follow their sat navs.

Some residents have reported that navigation apps have sent motorists down unsuitable country lanes and say they fear for the welfare of the forest's free-roaming wildlife.

The westbound carriageway is closed between the M27 junction 2 for Owner and the A338 at Ringwood.

The eastbound carriageway is closed between the A338 and M27 at Cadnam for junction 1.

Drivers will face disruption again this morning as the A31 remains shut.

The major route through the New Forest will be closed until at least next Thursday.

This is so repairs can be made to the carriageway, which was badly damaged after a van fire triggered the huge heathland blaze.

National Highways will not be able to begin work until it is safe.

Firefighters have spent a fifth night at the scene of the New Forest wildfire.

They are again expected to face challenging conditions with temperatures forecast to reach 31C again later.

We will be bringing you all the latest updates throughout the day.

Firefighters worked though another day of sweltering heat to contain the New Forest wildfire.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service says the perimeter of the blaze is under control but an area the size of about 230 football pitches has been affected.

The service continues to appeal for cigarettes to be fully extinguished and litter to be taken home, as the heat warnings in place "mean that the risk of outdoor fire is extremely high, not just out in the countryside, but also in the greenspaces".

Campsites are also being asked to ban BBQs and fires within the New Forest.

Here is how day five of the firefighting efforts unfolded:

• National Highways said it was still too dangerous to access the A31 near Ringwood following a van fire for repairs, so its closure has been extended until at least next Thursday
• Forestry England rangers have been tending to smaller fires breaking out, particularly around Lyndhurst
• Firefighters in Dorset have found it "unacceptable" to not have been issued the lightweight personal protective equipment (PPE) in the scorching heat but fire service management replied that was an issue of funding
• The fire service said crews were expected to remain at the New Forest heathland fire into the weekend and some local events have been put on hold

We're now pausing our live coverage, but we'll be back tomorrow with the latest updates.

Emily Hudson
BBC South Political Editor

The extended closure of the A31 following a van fire that spread to heathland in the Ringwood and Stoney Cross area, has been causing long delays on diversion routes and sat-nav concerns.

The road is not set to reopen until at least next Thursday 20 August.

BBC South political editor Emily Hudson has been at the Ringwood roundabout where the road closure starts.

Emily Hudson
BBC South Political Editor

Firefighters in Dorset have said it's "unacceptable" they have not got the lightweight personal protective equipment (PPE) that the crews in Hampshire have been issued.

Only five of the UK's 49 fire and rescue services are receiving funding for this type of specialist equipment.

Barney Hedgecock, the fairness at work representative for the Dorset & Wiltshire FBU branch, says the PPE they wear "doesn't let the heat in or out, so it can lead to heat exhaustion if you're out in the blazing sun for hours and hours, which can happen with wildfires".

"I've never had the opportunity to wear it, but I'm told it's like the difference between a lightweight summer waterproof jacket and a full winter ski jacket," he said.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service area manager Jason Moncrieff said they had had to make "difficult decisions about how to prioritise funding and hadn't yet been able to invest in PPE".

He said it could be added as part of their wider 2026-29 modernisation programme if extra funding through council tax was secured.

Forestry England has also been dealing with a series of other outbreaks across the New Forest.

Multiple fires have started in the national park - five of them around Lyndhurst in the past few days.

Recreation ranger Becky Sheehan showed the BBC what they are dealing with.

Bournemouth Water says demand in the New Forest "peaked on 9 August" while they worked with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and incident teams.

"The overall demand on the network, combining firefighting activities, increased customer usage and network performance, increased by 25%," it says.

Reporter Tristan Pascoe told BBC South Today presenter Sarah Farmer that the A31 dual carriageway through the New Forest in Hampshire will not reopen for at least a week.

Forestry England is calling for more than 100 independent camping businesses to follow its lead and ban campfires, BBQs and firepits on their sites in the New Forest.

A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is already in place to ban the lighting of fires of any type including any outdoor cooking facilities and equipment, as well as placing, throwing or dropping items likely to cause a fire in the open.

The A31 is set to stay closed for at least another week.

In its latest update, National Highways says information from the scene indicates the major route through the New Forest will have to be shut until "at least Thursday 20 August".

It says repairs needed following the initial van fire include replacing fencing, barriers and resurfacing the road.

The westbound carriageway is shut between the M27 junction 2 at Ower and the A338 at Ringwood. The eastbound carriageway is closed between the A338 and junction 1 of the M27 at Cadnam.

Road users are advised to follow the signed diversion route and ignore sat navs, which are sometimes directing motorists to use unsuitable country lanes.