A31 closed after collision sparks van fire near Wimborne

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The A31 was closed in both directions after a collision sparked a van fire exactly one month after a separate van fire on the same road ignited a heathland fire that destroyed more than 100 hectares in the New Forest National Park.

Dorset Police said: “We received a report at 12.58pm of a collision near to the Canford Bottom Roundabout on the A31 near Wimborne.

“Officers attended and it was further reported that one of the vehicles involved was on fire."

Road closures were put in place between the A349, Merley Roundabout and the B3073 Wimborne Road West, Canford Bottom Roundabout.

The A31 was closed in both directions today after a collision sparked a van fire near Wimborne. (Image: Dorset Roads Policing, Facebook)

Multiple emergency services attended the "minor injury" scene and traffic built up rapidly in the surrounding area, causing heavy congestion.

Police advised motorists to seek alternative routes and avoid the area completely where possible.

DWFRS said: “We received a call at 1.05pm this afternoon about a road traffic collision on the A31 between Canford Bottom and Merley Roundabout.

“Crews from Wimborne, Redhill and Poole (along with their water carrier) attended the incident which involved a converted motor vehicle – the vehicle had caught fire following the collision.

“Two breathing apparatus wearers use two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, and our stop was in at 1.53pm.”

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