A major incident was declared after Suffolk Fire and Rescue responded to a wildfire at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston, shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday. The fire service said on Thursday morning that crews were still tackling the large wildfire, with efforts focused on protecting properties including Coastguard Cottages, Mount Pleasant Farm and Cliff House Holiday Park. All individuals have been evacuated successfully.
The fire spread south-west towards St James’ Church, off Westleton Road. The major incident declaration was made “due to the size and complexity” of the blaze.
Heatwave and Health Alert
Temperatures soared across parts of the UK on Wednesday, reaching into the 30s. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had issued an amber heat-health alert for the East Midlands, the East, South East and London, which remains in place until 9am on Thursday. The agency warned that rising temperatures may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.
In an update late Wednesday evening, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service station manager Dan Davis said: “Crews from Leiston attended the scene and were met with what is a large-scale, wind-driven forestry fire. 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.” He urged the public to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed.
Cooler Weather Expected
The Met Office said a cooler change was on the way, with temperatures expected to fall much closer to average across much of the UK. Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said: “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.”
Flash Drought Warning
The Environment Agency separately warned that swathes of England are suffering from “flash drought” as a result of very low rainfall and high temperatures. The areas are East Anglia, Hertfordshire and the whole of London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex – covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Other Wildfires
The Suffolk blaze is one of several major wildfires being tackled across the UK. In Scotland, crews said they were making “significant progress” tackling a wildfire in the Cairngorms that broke out two weeks ago. A number of homes in the remote region were evacuated as plumes of smoke billowed into the sky, and vast swathes of trees, heather and grasslands have been left charred and blackened. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deputy assistant chief officer Michael Humphreys said: “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. To control this fire, what we’ve had to put in place is a significant number of fire breaks.”
