Suffolk wildfire: Major incident declared as blaze spreads near Sizewell

A major incident has been declared on the Suffolk coast after a large wildfire spread rapidly across Dunwich Heath, forcing evacuations and prompting warnings over the heightened wildfire risk across the UK.

Firefighters tackle the wildfire at Dunwich Heath after exceptionally dry conditions helped the blaze spread rapidly. Credit: Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service

The blaze broke out on Wednesday evening near Leiston, sending large plumes of smoke into the sky and prompting a major emergency response. Firefighters from across the region were called to the scene, while roads were closed and residents were advised to avoid the area.

Authorities also evacuated nearby homes and a holiday park containing around 200 caravans as a precaution. Specialist crews have been working throughout the night to prevent the flames from spreading further.

Fire crews have described the incident as both “large-scale” and “dynamic”, with specialist off-road vehicles, drones and water pumps being used to tackle the blaze. Emergency services are expected to remain at the scene for at least the next 24 to 48 hours.

Specialist crews battle the wildfire at Dunwich Heath as drought conditions continue across much of England. Credit: Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service

Although the wildfire is only a few miles from the Sizewell B nuclear power station and the Sizewell C construction site, operators have confirmed that neither site is under threat.

The fire comes as much of England experiences one of its driest years in decades. After a succession of heatwaves and weeks of below-average rainfall, vegetation across large parts of the country

Original Record.

This archived record authored by ‘Helena Mottram’ at ‘METEORED (Your Weather)’ was recovered from data set:

https://www.yourweather.co.uk/news/trending/suffolk-wildfire-major-incident-declared-as-blaze-spreads-near-sizewell.html