A major incident was declared after Suffolk Fire and Rescue responded to reports of a wildfire at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston, shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday
Homes have been evacuated while firefighters tackle a massive heathland blaze along the Suffolk coastline during Britain’s fourth heatwave of the summer. A major incident was declared after Suffolk Fire and Rescue responded to reports of a wildfire at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston, shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday.
“Following the update throughout the night, crews from Suffolk Fire and Rescue are still tackling a large wildfire at Dunwich Heath,” the fire service said in an update on Thursday morning.
“Throughout the night crews have been focused on protecting properties including Coastguard Cottages, Mount Pleasant Farm and Cliff House Holiday Park.
“All individuals have been evacuated successfully.”
The blaze spread south-west towards St James’ Church, off Westleton Road, the service said, confirming the major incident declaration had been made “due to the size and complexity” of the fire.
Temperatures rocketed across parts of Britain on Wednesday, climbing into the 30s in some areas. In an update late on Wednesday evening, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service station manager Dan Davis urged the public to avoid the area if possible and keep windows and doors closed.
“Crews from Leiston attended the scene and were met with what is a large-scale, wind-driven forestry fire,” he said.
“The incident has subsequently been upgraded to a major incident.
“We currently have approximately 90 firefighters on scene working incredibly hard in arduous conditions to bring this fire under control.”
The heath is about three miles from Sizewell B nuclear plant and 30 miles north-east of Ipswich. Suffolk County Council said: “At this time there is no current risk to Sizewell B, due to the distance from the fire and the direction it is travelling (Easterly).
“However, this is a live and dynamic situation and as a result any further updates will be shared accordingly.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat-health warning for the East Midlands, the East, South East and London.
This alert is set to remain in effect until 9am on Thursday, with the agency having previously cautioned that soaring temperatures could pose increased health risks, especially for those who are most vulnerable.
However, the Met Office has indicated a cooler shift is on the horizon, with temperatures predicted to drop closer to the average across much of the UK.
Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway stated: “The forecast is showing potential for more rain than much of the UK has experienced over the last few weeks.
“However, it looks as though amounts of rain for many will be fairly modest, and won’t balance out the shortfall that we have recorded this summer. It’s still possible that some areas of the south will miss out and see little or no rainfall.”
Separately, the Environment Agency has warned that large parts of England are experiencing a “flash drought” due to extremely low rainfall and high temperatures.
The affected areas include East Anglia, Hertfordshire, all of London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex – encompassing Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
The blaze in Suffolk is just one of several major wildfires currently being battled across the UK.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, crews reported they were making “significant progress” battling a wildfire in the Cairngorms that erupted a fortnight ago.
Several homes in the isolated area were evacuated as thick plumes of smoke rose into the sky, leaving enormous areas of trees, heather and grasslands scorched and blackened.
Speaking at the scene on Wednesday, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) deputy assistant chief officer Michael Humphreys told the Press Association that firefighters are making headway in combating the blaze.
Nevertheless, he cautioned that the danger of flare-ups remains elevated.
“It’s been an absolutely devastating fire for wildlife and for the local community who have come out in force to really support us, which we really do appreciate,” he said.
“To control this fire, what we’ve had to put in place is a significant number of fire breaks.”