RESIDENTS are being warned not to burn waste in the garden after a fire got out of control and led to the closure of the A31 near Ringwood.

The A31 through St Leonards was closed for some ten hours yesterday (Sunday, May 17) due to the incident which affected a number of gas cylinders.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) was called at 1.36pm to the fire near Ringwood Road, St Leonards.

Group manager Katie Cornhill said: “We strongly urge the public to only burn waste in the garden where absolutely necessary and, if they do so, to situate the fire well away from fences or buildings and maintain a watchful eye until it is fully extinguished. This incident was protracted due to the additional hazards on site, but it could have had far worse consequences, and thankfully there were no injuries on this occasion.

"Please think carefully before deciding to light a fire in your garden, particularly during these difficult times, when emergency services are working hard to maintain their emergency response.”

The fire service says the fire involved an oxygen cylinder and two acetylene cylinders and as a result a 100-metre cordon was put in place to protect nearby residents, workers and road users.

Around 45 firefighters battled the blaze. Fire crews from Ferndown, Hamworthy, Poole, Redhill Park, Springbourne, Verwood and Wimborne, with support from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and their crews from Redbridge and Ringwood, tackled the fire that had spread to numerous scrap vehicles and an outbuilding, and damaged the soffit of a nearby bungalow.

Dorset Police assisted with the closure of the A31, which was shut in both directions between Palmerswood Roundabout and Ashley Health roundabout.

The road was reopened at 11.25pm.

Nearby residents were also warned to stay inside and keep their windows and doors shut during the incident as the smoke plume travelled towards neighbouring properties.

Eleven residents from properties within the safety cordon were evacuated as a precaution, and the nearby NHS 111 care hub was also affected. DWFRS said that the care hub was able to continue operating after only a short interruption.

Firefighters used water supplied from a nearby hydrant and compressed air foam to extinguish the fire and used water monitors placed at a safe distance to manage the temperature of the cylinders, therefore minimising any risk of an explosion.

The incident came to an end just after 11pm.