Firefighters spend second night battling ‘devastating’ New Forest blaze

New Forest heathland is home to wildlife including all six UK native reptiles, Dartford warblers, nightjars and wild ponies. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

Efforts to contain a “devastating” blaze in the New Forest will continue into a second night as firefighting crews race to protect the fragile heathland and rare species.

The area hit by the blaze, which started after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday, is protected heathland that is home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest national park authority.