Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service declared a wildfire on Dunwich Heath a major incident on July 29, 2026, deploying more than 100 firefighters and helicopters to combat the blaze. The fire spread across approximately 150 hectares of the heathland near Dunwich, Suffolk, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents and holidaymakers.

The wildfire broke out on Dunwich Heath in Suffolk at approximately 5pm on Wednesday. Firefighters continued to battle the blaze for more than 24 hours as the incident developed. More than 100 firefighters were deployed to the scene to tackle the flames, supported by six London Fire Brigade appliances that were dispatched to assist with the wildfire.

Firefighting efforts included a helicopter capable of dropping 100 litres of seawater on each pass to help suppress the fire fronts. Henry Griffin, the deputy chief fire officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, provided updates on the status of the operation. "Although the fire is dynamic, it remains stable and Suffolk fire and rescue service is making good progress," Griffin said.

Griffin noted that wind conditions remained a factor in the ongoing response efforts. "We have a couple of fire fronts we are actively monitoring, checking on their wind speed, checking on that wind direction, to make sure any reignition is controlled and monitored throughout the coming hours," he said. Due to the scale and unpredictable nature of the wind direction, officials stopped short of declaring the situation fully contained. "I would not use the words to say it is ‘under control’, but I am confident we have the resources in place and a plan in place to mitigate any risks of this fire," he said.

The rapid evacuation efforts displaced hundreds of people from the affected areas. About 50 people were evacuated from their homes and a nearby holiday park as the fire advanced. Approximately 200 holidaymakers were evacuated from coastal properties and caravans, including Cliff House holiday park.

Evacuees were moved to Westleton, where the village hall was turned into a rest center. Forty people stayed at Westleton village hall acting as a rest center, while villagers in Westleton accommodated 47 evacuees in their homes overnight.

Freddie Gulliver, an emergency manager at the Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit, addressed residents at a meeting at Westleton Village Hall to provide updates on the situation. Gulliver told residents that Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service were making good progress in containing the spread. "Good progress is being made. That said, anything can still happen until the fire is out completely," Gulliver said.

He also issued warnings regarding access to the affected zones. "There will still be no access to campsites or properties that have been evacuated, evacuated for tonight, in this evening," he said.

Gulliver praised the local community for their response to the crisis. "They have been absolutely brilliant at looking after everyone, so I want to stress my thanks and gratitude to everyone involved," he said. Incident Commander Christopher May urged the public to avoid the affected area to ensure safety and allow emergency crews to operate effectively. No injuries have been reported among the public or emergency services during the incident.

The fire caused damage to parts of the RSPB Minsmere nature reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Smoke and flames spread to the reserve, which closed as a precautionary measure. Conservationists raised concerns for rare birds and wildlife on the heath and nearby RSPB Minsmere, including Dartford warblers, nightjars, stonechats, adders, common lizards, and slow worms. Recovery of the RSPB Minsmere nature reserve is anticipated to take over a decade due to the extent of the damage.

There was no immediate concern about the fire spreading towards Sizewell B nuclear power station. The Sizewell B nuclear power station and the Sizewell C construction site confirmed they were closely monitoring the situation. A spokesperson for EDF said the wildfire was not affecting operations at Sizewell B. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire, though the blaze was attributed to a prolonged spell of hot and dry weather across the UK. The rapid spread of the fire was attributed to tinder-dry conditions and ongoing drought.

Fire crews are expected to continue tackling the fire for the next 24 to 48 hours. The Dunwich Heath wildfire occurred within a broader context of extreme weather conditions across the United Kingdom. Half of England is officially in drought, according to the Environment Agency, creating tinder-dry conditions that facilitate rapid fire spread. Firefighters across England and Wales have been battling more than 200 wildfires in the past two weeks.