A MASS fire warning has been issued after acres of New Forest heathland were set ablaze in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Forty-five firefighters raced to the scene near Holbury just after midnight and took on the large fire for more than three hours as it gripped the dry gorse.

Now, fire bosses have pleaded with the public to be as cautious as possible with Hampshire listed as being at a severely high risk of a fire in the current heatwave – though police are treating the Holbury blaze as a suspected arson.

Police and fire crews were first called at 12.15am to Forest Road near Holbury where they were met with large flames and searing heat.

After realising the extent of the fire, crews decided to call for further help before trying to get ahead of the flames and where they were spreading.

Crews from Lyndhurst, Beaulieu, Hardley and Burley fire stations all attended, as well as the Forestry Commission to help damp down the scene once it was under control.

With a warning of how severe the gorse fire could have been, fire bosses have pleaded with residents to be aware of their actions.

Paul Reddish, station manager at the scene, said the county was absolutely susceptible to a large fire given the hot weather and dry ground.

He said: “We were met with a very large fire and it would have been even worse had it not been for the decisive work of the crews who arrived on scene.

“The first decision we had to make is to get ahead of the fire and see which way the wind is blowing.

“We are absolutely susceptible to a large fire at the moment given the weather. We would urge anyone – especially in the New Forest – to be as careful and cautious as possible with BBQs, bottles and of course the standard one of discarded cigarettes.

“No wildlife that we know of was injured in the fire. Horses and ponies are very good at fleeing something like this.”

Police confirmed that they are treating the blaze as suspected arson, and are appealing for any information.

A member of the Forestry Commission, which manages the open land owned by the government, said that given the time of the fire, the chances of a natural ignition were a lot lower, something which Mr Reddish agreed with.

He said: “That’s certainly fair to say. There were no obvious indications at the time but you work with all options open.

“We will work together with police to try and establish exactly what happened and see where the investigation goes from here.”

At the time of the blaze, Hampshire was on the second-highest warning rating for a fire, and remains at high risk.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said that Southampton and the New Forest was set to continue basking in the dry heat for the foreseeable future, and that any cloud during the week will be ended by further hotter weather at the weekend.

A spokesperson for the Forestry Commission added: “We want everyone to be able to enjoy the outdoors, however, the current dry conditions have increased the risk of fires in the New Forest, so we are urging people to please act responsibly. It’s important that people do not have open camp fires of BBQs. Disposable BBQs should only be used at Bolderwood, Blackwater and Wilverley where stands and water are available for safe usage.”

Though the exact cause of the fire is unknown, police say it is being treated as suspicious.

A statement from Hampshire Constabulary said: “We are appealing for information following a suspected arson in the New Forest.

“We were called just after midnight on July 17 about a large fire in heathland.

“Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service brought the fire under control in the early hours.

“The exact cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but is being treated as suspicious.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting 44180268714.