A31 reopens after New Forest wildfire as fire union calls for more resources
The A31 has reopened after a New Forest wildfire, and the fire brigade union is calling for more resources after firefighters were stretched by recent blazes.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The A31, the main route between Bournemouth and Southampton, has reopened nearly two weeks after a wildfire in the New Forest. A major incident was declared on the road after a van fire spread to surrounding heathland, affecting an area of more than 100 hectares.
Meanwhile, the fire brigade's union is calling for more resources to help crews cope with the increasing number of call-outs this summer. The appeal follows an incident in Stoke-on-Trent where six firefighters needed hospital treatment for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.
In Sandyford, Staffordshire, four homes were destroyed and dozens of families evacuated after a separate fire. Resident Chris Murchison described the scene: "You see people running in the streets, people just in tears. And I'm never going to forget those images like my neighbours who I've known for that amount of time to see all the pain on their faces just because of one careless thing that's gone wrong."
Martin Starkey, chair of the Fire Brigades Union in the West Midlands, said Staffordshire has lost about 200 firefighters since 2008. Speaking at Park Hall Country Park, a hotspot for wildfires, he said: "When it comes to the dry periods, we're on our knees to be frank." He rejected the government's suggestion that the summer's fires were unprecedented, arguing that wildfire incidents have happened before and that fire services are often stretched in hot weather.
Residents in Sandyford have rallied in support of the firefighters. One said: "They're being let down in some sort of it. I know money's difficult to come by in this day and age but you know public services do need that support and it's proved it more than anything actually here in Sandyford." Another added: "The job they've done is unbelievable. Putting themselves on the line and knowing some of them were taken to hospital and wish them the speed of recovery."
The council has admitted it could have communicated better, but there was no criticism of firefighters. The Fire Commissioner for Staffordshire declined to comment. The government insists it will ensure fire services have the resources they need, but the FBU says those resources are needed urgently.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One | Sky News |
|---|---|---|
| A fire in the New Forest, started by a van, spread to protected heathland and led to the closure of the A31. | ||
| Six firefighters in Stoke-on-Trent needed hospital treatment for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. | · | |
| The A31 reopened nearly two weeks after the New Forest fire. | · | |
| The Fire Brigades Union called for more resources, noting Staffordshire has lost about 200 firefighters since 2008, while the government insisted it will ensure fire services have the resources they need. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report led with the reopening of the A31, then used the Sandyford fire as a case study to highlight the Fire Brigades Union's call for more resources. It balanced official statements with resident and union voices, and gave space to the government's response while noting the union's disagreement.
- “When it comes to the dry periods, we're on our knees to be frank.”
- “They're being let down in some sort of it. I know money's difficult to come by in this day and age but you know public services do need that support and it's proved it more than anything actually here in Sandyford.”
- “The job they've done is unbelievable. Putting themselves on the line and knowing some of them were taken to hospital and wish them the speed of recovery.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.