Emergency services were called at 5.24pm on Sunday, August 9, to reports of a vehicle alight on the A31 between Picket Post and Stoney Cross. The fire created a large plume of dark smoke, which was reported to have been visible from across the region, including Swanage and Southampton. Flames from A31 vehicle fire (Image: Tatum Hidalgo Mendelson)People travelling over the area on an aeroplane also reported seeing the smoke from above. She added that she was calling 999 because she was unsure whether emergency services had been alerted. The M27 was also closed from Junction 2 as emergency services responded.