FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE MAJOR WILDFIRE AT DUNWICH HEATH

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service responded to reports of a wildfire at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston, shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday 29 July. Properties including Coastguard Cottages, Mount Pleasant Farm and Cliff House Holiday Park were evacuated. All individuals were evacuated successfully, according to the fire service. The incident was declared a major incident due to the size and complexity of the fire.

The fire spread south-west towards St James' Church, off Westleton Road. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service station manager Dan Davis stated that approximately 90 firefighters were on scene working in arduous conditions to bring the fire under control. He described it as a large-scale, wind-driven forestry fire. The blazes occurred during a period of high temperatures across the UK, with some areas surpassing 30°C on Wednesday.

The Dunwich Heath wildfire is one of several major wildfires being tackled across the UK at the time of reporting. In Scotland, crews stated they were making significant progress on a wildfire in the Cairngorms that had broken out two weeks prior. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service reported continuing to make progress on a blaze at Tintwistle Moor that had broken out three weeks earlier.