Firefighters are tackling a huge blaze near a nuclear power plant in Suffolk as authorities declared a “major incident” and residents have been evacuated.
At least 90 firefighters are tackling the “large-scale, wind- driven forestry fire” which broke out on Dunwich Heath shortly after 5:30pm on Wednesday, the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said.
Residents in several coastal properties and caravans have been evacuated as crews issued an urgent plea for people to stay away from the area.
There is no current risk to Sizewell B – a nuclear power station which provides electricity to 2.5 million households – due to the distance of the fire, but firefighters warn it is a “live and dynamic situation”.
It comes after forecasters warned any wildfires that break out in the South of England this week could become “exceptionally severe” due to a prolonged spell of hot and dry weather across the country.
The UK has experienced record-breaking temperatures this summer, with four heatwaves and a severe dry spell that has left the landscape parched.
At the height of the third heatwave in mid-July, firefighters were battling 19 significant wildfires simultaneously in England and Wales.
Have you been affected by the wildfire in Suffolk? We’d like to hear from you. Please email nicole.wootton-cane@independent.co.uk
‘Around a hundred people’ gathered at evacuation hub on Thursday morning
Around a hundred people gathered at the evacuation hub at Westleton Village Hall this morning, a local resident told The Independent.
The man, who did not want to be named, said people had been accommodated in the village hall at around midnight last night and that local campsites had been offering facilities for showers.
He hailed it as a “proper community effort”.
Nicole Wootton-Cane30 July 2026 11:45
Satellite images show spread of wildfire
Satellite images of the area around Dunwich Heath show the current spread of the wildfire.
It comes as firefighters said they expect to be fighting the blaze for “at least 24 to 48 hours” longer due to the size and complexity of the incident.
Nicole Wootton-Cane30 July 2026 11:33
Firefighters will continue to tackle blaze for 24 to 48 hours, fire chief says
Firefighters will continue to tackle a blaze on Dunwich Heath for the next 24 to 48 hours due to the “size and complexity” of the incident, crews have said.
In an update on Thursday morning, incident commander Christopher May said crews are still dealing with a “major incident” and urged people not to leave rubbish, cigarette butts, and open fires on the land.
“We are currently dealing with a major incident that started yesterday at 17:30. Our crews have been fighting fire throughout the night ensuring they protect life and property. We are also trying to ensure the impact to the local environment is minimised to the best of our ability,” he said.
“Crews will continue to fight fire in the local area for the next probably 24 to 48 hours due to the size and complexity of the incident we face, and we still are in a major incident.”
He also asked people to “be safe and wildfire aware” when out and about in the local area.
“Please be careful discarding rubbish, cigarette butts, or having open fires. These can have dramatic and devastating effects to wildland and does make it extremely challenging in this heat for firefighters to manage.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane30 July 2026 11:12
‘You’ve got to go’: Holidaymaker describes evacuation
The Independent’s Bryony Gooch has been speaking to evacuated residents:
A holidaymaker who was evacuated from Cliff House holiday park on Wednesday night has described the moment she was told by firefighters “you’ve got to go”.
Anna Seymour, 56, had been staying around five minutes away from Dunwich Heath for the last three days.
She said she heard “lots of noise” and fire engines on Wednesday evening and thought it was “really unusual”.
About 20 minutes later, she had a knock on the door and was told “go to the evacuation point”.
There, staff told her they were on “high alert” and to go back to her cabin to pack to be ready to leave.
At around 10:30pm she said she had another knock on her door and was told to evacuate: “They were just very calm,” she said.
“The firefighters were then checking everywhere until they was clear. Obviously people were on holiday, so some people were over the limit, they’d had a few drinks, so they was arranging for transport to take them to a place of safety.
“The firefighters obviously amazing, but the staff at Cliff House as well, they were very calm. There was no panic and everybody just left calmly.
“I’d already packed quite a bit, but I have left some stuff there obviously because once they knocked at the door, it was just a case of ‘you’ve got to go’.”
She said she was left coughing because there was “quite a lot of smoke” once she left the site.
“It’s such a beautiful part of Suffolk, so it’s quite upsetting at the moment for everybody.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane30 July 2026 11:00
Firefighting operations ‘strengthened’ due to changing wind conditions
Firefighting efforts have been “strengthened” due to changing wind conditions with evacuations underway.
Wind conditions are expected to become “variable” this morning due to a change in the weather, meaning properties at risk of fire and smoke are being evacuated, fire crews have said in an update on Thursday morning.
They again urged members of the public to avoid the area.
Nicole Wootton-Cane30 July 2026 10:52
No injuries reported in wildfire
No injuries have been reported during the wildfire on Dunwich Heath, emergency services have confirmed.
Around 200 people were successfully evacuated overnight from holiday homes in the area.
Nicole Wootton-Cane30 July 2026 10:45
Nature reserve closed due to proximity to wildfires
A nature reserve on the doorstep of the ongoing blaze on Dunwich Heath has closed today due to the incident.
In a post shared on social media, RSPB Minsmere said: “Due to the ongoing situation at Dunwich Heath, Minsmere will be closed today (Thursday 30 July).
“This is a precautionary measure and we will keep you updated as to when the reserve will reopen.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane30 July 2026 10:30
Parts of the UK have been without rain for more than 40 days
Parts of the UK have been without rain for more than 40 days before a devastating wildfire broke out on Dunwich Heath.
Met Office data shows that at the start of the week, Wisley, in Surrey, had had 40 consecutive “dry days”, in which no or only a trace of rain has been recorded, while Herstmonceux, West End, in East Sussex had 37 dry days.
A number of other sites including Suffolk, where the fire has broken out, Heathrow in London and spots in Worcestershire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire have all recorded more than 30 consecutive dry days.
Earlier this week a National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) spokesperson warned: “With the Met Office warning that a fourth heatwave could develop this week, bringing another period of very hot weather to parts of the UK, fire and rescue services remain on alert and are continuing to prepare for renewed wildfire risk.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane30 July 2026 10:15
Fire is ‘sad news’, former Suffolk coastal MP says
The ongoing wildfire on Dunwich Heath is “sad news”, the former MP for Suffolk coastal Thérèse Coffey has said.
In a post on X, she wrote: “Sad news to wake up to with wildfire spreading across @nationaltrust Dunwich Heath. I know @SuffolkFire is already responding. Thank you to all the retained and regular fire fighters working on this. Let’s hope it doesn’t spread to @RSPBMinsmere and further along @coastandheaths.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane30 July 2026 10:00
Full list of areas affected by drought as half of England plunged into dry weather crisis
The wildfire in Suffolk comes as almost half of England’s population is experiencing official drought conditions following a period of low rainfall and back-to-back heatwaves.
Up to 28 million people live in the affected areas across central, eastern and southern England.
You can read more about where is affected below:
Full list of areas affected by drought as half of England plunged into weather crisis
England is facing an ‘exceptionally serious situation’, officials have saidNicole Wootton-Cane30 July 2026 09:50NewerOlder