A large wildfire has been raging on Dunwich Heath in Suffolk for more than twelve hours, covering an area roughly equivalent to fourteen football pitches. The blaze, which began shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, has been designated a major incident by local authorities.
The heath lies just four miles from the Sizewell B nuclear power station, the largest in the United Kingdom. Officials have confirmed that, due to the distance and the easterly direction of the fire’s spread, there is currently no risk to the nuclear site.
Firefighters have focused on protecting key properties, including Coastguard Cottages, Mount Pleasant Farm, and the Cliff House Holiday Park. All residents of the holiday park were successfully evacuated, and the park’s staff have been providing meals while the situation remains uncertain.
The fire also threatens the nearby RSPB Minsmere nature reserve. A couple who fled their home at around 11:30 p.m. spent the night in their car, expressing uncertainty about the future of their caravan as smoke enveloped the area.
England is experiencing a fourth heatwave this year, with temperatures exceeding 30 °C in parts of the country. The heat has been linked to 2,877 deaths in May and June, nearly double the figure from last summer, and has left 21 counties under hosepipe bans that affect 23 million people.
Wildfire warnings have been issued across the country, as several outbreaks continue. The Cairngorms in Scotland have been burning for two weeks, adding to the national tinderbox of dry conditions.
Fire services have issued an amber heat‑health alert for the East Midlands, the East, South East, and London, noting that temperatures are expected to fall to average levels today. Forecasts suggest limited rainfall, insufficient to offset the summer’s shortfall, with some southern regions likely to receive little or no rain.
Across Europe, wildfires have devastated parts of France and Spain, prompting the evacuation of around 330,000 people. In Greece, three firefighters lost their lives while fighting separate infernos in Crete and the southern Peloponnese.
