A wildfire at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk has burned an area the size of 140 football pitches, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate overnight. Firefighters are still battling to bring the blaze under control as temperatures soar into the 30s Celsius across southern England.
Evacuations and response
Some 200 caravans were evacuated, with holidaymakers woken by banging on their doors. Around 120 firefighters and 18 fire engines are at the scene, with crews from Cambridgeshire, Essex and Norfolk providing mutual aid. Chief Fire Officer Jon Lacey said the incident is "very dynamic and fast-paced", adding: "I wouldn't say the fire is surrounded and we're on top of it because it moves faster than we're able to deal with it."
Nuclear plant monitoring
The blaze is a few miles from Sizewell B nuclear power station and the construction site of Sizewell C. EDF said the fire "is not affecting operations at Sizewell B power station" but the company is "continuing to monitor the situation". A Sizewell C spokesperson said the fire "currently poses low risk to Sizewell C, given its distance from site and watercourses in between".
Environmental impact
RSPB Suffolk area manager Adam Rowlands said the fire is "unprecedented in living memory" and the damage "quite devastating". The affected land is home to rare wildlife including nightjars and Dartford warblers. Rowlands said it could take "more than a decade" for the habitat to recover. RSPB Minsmere nature reserve has closed.
Community support
Westleton Village Hall has been set up as an evacuation centre, with volunteers providing food, bedding and pet supplies. One holidaymaker told the Mirror: "We grabbed our sons in their pyjamas and left." The mayor of Aldeburgh described the fire as "deeply distressing". Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged that Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service will have "all the support" needed.
