Summary

  • More firefighters have been deployed in an attempt to contain a large wildfire that broke out on Dunwich Heath in Suffolk on Wednesday - watch aerial footage above

  • A major incident has been declared "due to the size and complexity" of the blaze - now about the size of 140 football pitches - with the RSPB saying it could take 25 years for the heathland to recover

  • Homes and 200 caravans have been evacuated, with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service saying no injuries have been reported so far

  • The fire is not affecting Sizewell B, a nuclear power station about four miles (6.4km) from the heath, EDF says - but adds it is "closely monitoring the situation"

  • Justin North, who was staying at a holiday cottage in the area, told the BBC he was woken up by a "hammering" on the door last night and told to evacuate immediately

  • The blaze comes as the Environment Agency announced that half of England, including Suffolk, is officially in drought

Have you been affected?

Live Reporting

Edited by David Keller with writing by Rachael McMenemy and Alice Cunningham, with reporters at the scene

  1. 'It just got worse and worse'

    Rozina Sini
    BBC News

    In the foreground is heathland grass, and in the distance is billowing white smoke, against a blue sky.Kevin Maginnis

    I've just spoken to Kevin Maginnis from London.

    He was staying in a caravan with his family and pets at the Dunwich Cliffs Estate and had to be evacuated last night.

    He says he saw the smoke and "it just got worse and worse". Then, at 23:00, they were told to evacuate.

    "Luckily we had friends in Southwold so we all decamped and headed there for the night," he says.

    Maginnis and his family drove back to London this morning, but say they will eventually have to return to the caravan to close it down and remove the food inside.

    "I am hoping that the caravan will be OK," he says. "It will be quite devastating if not."

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  2. Fire service to provide update

    John Lacey, the chief fire officer, is expected to give an update to those evacuated at Westleton Village Hall shortly.

    The village hall is being used as a relief centre for people who have been evacuated from homes and caravans.

  3. Fire not affecting Sizewell B

    As for Sizewell B, which is operational, managers have made efforts to reassure the public.

    A spokesperson for EDF confirms the fire is "not affecting operations" and they are "closely monitoring the situation".

    It is understood Sizewell B, located near Dunwich Heath, has an emergency plan in place that covers a range of scenarios - including in the event of a fire at the site.

    Liz Quickenden sent us this picture from Wednesday evening, showing white billowing smoke in the distance.

    She describes the effect of the blaze on wildlife as "unbelievably sad".

    A stony beach in the foreground, and the white dome of a power plant to the left. In the distance, white smoke billows towards the sea, which is to the right of the frame.Liz Quickenden

    EDF says the fire is not affecting operations at Sizewell B (pictured to the left)

  4. Fire poses 'low risk' to Sizewell C

    White smoke billows behind a scene of cranes, and a stone beach is in the foreground.Liz Quickenden

    On Wednesday evening, smoke could be seen billowing from beyond the construction of Sizewell C - but from several miles away

    Sizewell C says the fire is currently posing a "low risk" to its site due to the distance and the watercourses in between.

    The nuclear power station is currently being built and expected to be operational in the mid to late 2030s.

    It is separate to Sizewell B, which is operational.

    "We are closely monitoring the fire at Dunwich Heath," they explain.

    "Our sites and offices remain open and operating as normal.

    "We are continuously assessing smoke conditions and any impacts on the road network to help keep people safe and ensure emergency services have priority access."

    Its teams are ready to work with the community, emergency services and local councils, they add.

  5. Change of wind direction spared village

    A view from above of two firefighters, in black and brown uniform, aiming hoses at the flames which spread on heathland. White smoke billows into the air.Ryan Lovejoy

    Ryan Lovejoy, a local filmmaker who took drone footage of the fire, says it has been "terrifying" to witness.

    "I've never seen anything like this here before," he says.

    Lovejoy was having dinner in nearby Southwold on the Suffolk coast and saw smoke in the distance. He says he initially put a drone up to see where the fire was as he lives in Dunwich.

    He has been working with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service to help them assess which direction the flames are spreading.

    At one point the fire was heading straight for Dunwich, he explains, getting within 0.7 miles (1.2km), before a change of wind direction appeared to steer it away.

    It is currently heading towards the sea.

    A bird's eye view of flames burning through the trees.Ryan Lovejoy

  6. Now 100 firefighters attending

    Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service say the blaze is still not under control.

    There are now 100 firefighters and 18 fire engines at the scene.

    Two red and yellow fire engines are on a unmade track of byway, with bushes either side, and there are red flames in the background.PA Media

  7. Local pub forced to close

    The red brick exterior of a village pub where bunting has been placed across its front. It is two-storey, and there are cars parked outside. There is blue sky and white clouds above.Google

    The Ship pub in Dunwich says it has closed to "ensure team and guest safety".

    "Our guests have been contacted directly," they say in a statement.

    They thank people for their patience and send their thoughts to those tackling the fire.

  8. Wildlife trust urges vigilance

    Suffolk Wildlife Trust says it is "heartbreaking" to see the fire at Dunwich Heath "destroying precious wildlife habitats and causing distress and disruption for local communities".

    "Suffolk is officially in drought, and nature reserves are particularly vulnerable to wildfires due to the exceptionally dry vegetation," they add.

    The spokesperson says its nearby Dingle Marshes reserve was unaffected, but that people should "remain vigilant".

    People should not light BBQs, cigarette butts and should not litter in these areas, they continue.

    "We're thinking of the brave fire crews, the local communities, and the local wildlife."

    A bird's eye view of white smoke billowing from green trees, with dry brown fields in the foreground.PA Media

  9. MP 'deeply conscious' of farmer impact

    Patrick Spencer wears a navy suit and stands in front of a plain background. He is smiling directly at the camera and is wearing large black-rimmed glasses.PA Media

    The MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Patrick Spencer, describes the fire as an "extremely worrying situation".

    He thanks the fire service and other emergency teams for their work during "incredibly challenging conditions to keep people safe, and protect homes and property".

    "My priority is making sure that everyone affected receives the information and assistance they need while the emergency response continues," he adds.

    "I am also deeply conscious of the impact on our farming community.

    "At such a critical point in the year, with harvest under way or about to begin for many, this is an especially difficult time for farmers whose land, livestock, or livelihoods are at risk."

  10. Holiday park evacuated and all safe

    An entrance and road into a holiday park. There is a lone house on the side with various entry signs.Google

    Louise Eagle, general manager at Cliff House Holiday Park which is located near Dunwich Heath, says 100 of its onsite lodges were evacuated last night.

    As well as this, visitors in tents and campervans were also evacuated with all accounted for and everyone confirmed safe.

    She says it is a "shocking scenario" and she "really feels" for all those involved.

  11. First look at devastation caused by Suffolk wildfire

    Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has posted footage of the devastation caused by the wildfire.

    "Crews continue to work tirelessly as the response to this major incident continues," it said.

  12. Fire now the size of 140 football pitches

    Suffolk County Council says the fire now covers 247.1 acres (100 hectares) - equivalent to about 140 football pitches.

    This morning, the fire service told the BBC that about 24.7 acres was on fire.

  13. Fire service to continue working for next 24-48 hours

    A bird's eye or drone view of a red and yellow fire engine, and a white car, parked on a sandy heathland, with some green bushes around them.

    Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has given an update on its social media pages and says it expects to continue fighting the blaze at Dunwich Heath for at least the next day.

    Incident commander Christopher May, who is at the scene, says crews will continue to "fight fire" for the next 24 to 48 hours due to the "complexity" of the blaze.

    Crews are trying to "minimise" the impact on the local environment as much as possible, he adds.

    A drone view of three red and yellow fire engines on a single lane road, with bushes either side.

    He adds: "In Suffolk we want you to go out and enjoy our wild spaces and nature reserves, it's something we'd encourage

    "But we'd really like you to be safe and wild-fire aware. Please be careful discarding rubbish, cigarette butts or [having] open fires.

    "These can have dramatic and devastating effects to wild land and does make it extremely challenging in this heat for firefighters to manage."

  14. What we know so far

    For more than 18 hours, firefighters have been battling to bring a coastal heathland fire under control.

    Here's what we know so far:

    • The fire service was called to Dunwich Heath in Suffolk at 17:00 BST on Wednesday
    • Homes and 200 caravans at a holiday park were evacuated overnight
    • The blaze is still not under control and an area of 24.7 acres (10 hectares) - roughly equivalent to 14 football pitches - is still ablaze
    • Changing wind conditions have led to more homes being evacuated but it is unclear how many people are displaced
    • About 90 firefighters and 14 fire appliances are still on site
    • No injuries have been reported
    • A relief centre for those affected has been set up at Westleton Village Hall
    A bird's eye view of green trees and a large building, but white smoke billows in the foreground. The sea is visible.

  15. Hoping for positive news, says mayor

    The deputy mayor of Aldeburgh, TJ Haworth-Culf, describes the fire as "deeply distressing" in a statement on social media.

    "I know I speak on behalf of all my fellow councillors and community when I say how grateful and humbled we are by the courage, dedication and professionalism of everyone involved," she said.

    "We are all hoping for positive news over the coming hours and that the fire can be brought safely under control."

    "Our thoughts are also with the communities of Westleton and Dunwich, the visitors staying at the nearby caravan park, and the teams from the RSPB and National Trust who are working hard to create firebreaks and limit the spread of the fire."

  16. Road closures

    The following road closures remain in place:

    • A full closure between the junction of Minsmere Road and Westleton Road
    • Partial closures on Dunwich Road and Walk Barn Farm Lane
    • Mill Road and Hard Piece Lane is closed towards Dunwich

  17. More properties evacuated

    Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service says changing wind conditions in the early hours of the morning are prompting more evacuations.

    Winds are currently coming from the north-west and the fire is heading east.

    smoke
    Large plumes of white smoke are billowing from an area of fields beside the sea. The photo is taken from above, perhaps from a helicopter.

  18. Smoke plume climbs into the sky

    More aerial pictures captured this morning show the heathland still burning heavily on the coastal site.

  19. Response escalates

    Currently about 90 firefighters are at the scene and 14 appliances, including fire trucks.

    Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service says the response was initially scaled down to 70 firefighters before being escalated up again, going back to 90 before 08:00 BST.

    firefighters

  20. Runner recalls seeing flames spread

    Fire burns near to cottages. Thick smoke can be seen billowing into the air.Alex Tarry

    Alex Tarry tells BBC Radio Suffolk's Johnnie Wright that he was jogging along the coast at Sizewell at 05:00 BST when he saw all the smoke behind the Coastguard Cottages at Dunwich Heath.

    "I ran up there, there was a fire front that could have been half-a-mile long, about 150m away from me.

    "The cottages were completely deserted but [the fire was] moving toward [them]."

    A man smiles at the camera. He wears a blue hat, sunglasses and red T-shirt.Alex Tarry

    He added: "It's very sad, a huge amount of heath is being affected.

    "It's just absolutely shocking, it's coming closer and closer... I've known [Dunwich Heath] all my life and the wildlife, the history, the habitats has just been consumed.

    "It was noisy with explosions, and bushes and trees were bursting into flames.

    "There was just a feeling of there's nothing you can do and feeling utterly, utterly helpless... it's shocking."

    Fire burns in an open grassy area. Thick smoke billows into the air.Alex Tarry