Cliff House Holiday Park in Dunwich, Suffolk, has been evacuated as a precaution due to a nearby wildfire on Dunwich Heath. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident after being called to the blaze shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday. As of Thursday afternoon, the fire covered about 100 hectares, with 18 fire engines at the scene.
Fighting the Blaze
Incident commander Christopher May said crews would continue to “fight fire” in the area for the next 24 to 48 hours because of the “size and complexity of the incident”. The fire service released a video showing blackened trees and scorched ground.
Nearby Power Stations
The blaze is a few miles from nuclear power station Sizewell B and the construction site for Sizewell C. An EDF spokesperson said the fire was “not affecting operations at Sizewell B power station” and that they were “closely monitoring the situation”. A spokesperson for Sizewell C said the construction site was also “closely monitoring” the fire, adding “it currently poses low risk to Sizewell C, given its distance from site and watercourses in between”. They said: “Sizewell C sites and offices continue to operate as normal, but we are continuously assessing the impacts of smoke and the effects on the road network to ensure that our people remain safe and emergency services have priority. We remain available to support the local community, in collaboration with the local council and police and Fire and Rescue Services.”
Other UK Wildfires
Separately, new restrictions have been put in place at Dovestone Reservoir as a wildfire continues to rage near Greenfield in Oldham, burning since July 11. It remains a major incident, with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service also tackling a wildfire at Swineshaw. In Scotland, crews said they were making “significant progress” tackling a wildfire in the Cairngorms that broke out two weeks ago.
