Wildfire near Dunwich Heath forces evacuations close to Sizewell B
A major incident has been declared after a wildfire broke out at Dunwich Heath on the Suffolk coast. Homes have been evacuated, and a holiday park has also been cleared as firefighters worked through the night to contain the blaze. The fire is burning in large heathland close to the coast and has prompted warnings for people to avoid the area.
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Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said its crews have focused on protecting properties including Coastguard Cottages, Mount Pleasant Farm and Cliff House Holiday Park. The fire broke out shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday and spread towards St James' Church. Officials said the blaze is about four miles from the Sizewell B nuclear plant, although Suffolk County Council said there is no current risk to the site.
The incident comes during a period of hot and dry weather across England. Temperatures have risen above 30C in parts of the UK, while half of England is officially in drought and 21 counties are under a hosepipe ban affecting 23 million people. Fire chiefs have warned that these conditions are creating a tinderbox effect in some areas, with several wildfires already being tackled elsewhere.
The proximity of the fire to Sizewell B has added to concern, even though authorities have said the plant is not currently threatened. Sizewell B is one of the UK's key nuclear facilities, so any fire in the surrounding area is likely to attract close public and official attention. The evacuation of homes and a holiday park also shows the immediate impact on residents, visitors and local services in a coastal area that is vulnerable to fast-moving heathland fires.
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The wider situation reflects a summer of repeated heat and drought pressures. An amber heat-health alert is in place for the East Midlands, the East, South East and London, and forecasters have said some rain may arrive, although it is expected to be modest and may not make up the shortfall recorded this summer. Firefighters are also dealing with other outbreaks, including one in the Cairngorms in Scotland that has been burning for two weeks.
What remains unclear is how much land has burned, how long the evacuation measures will stay in place and whether the fire will spread further. The next developments will depend on overnight and daytime firefighting progress, local weather conditions and any further advice from emergency services. For now, the main focus remains on protecting homes, nearby buildings and the surrounding coastline.
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