Suffolk Wildfire Burns 150 Hectares Near Sizewell B, Crews Say Blaze Is Stabilizing

A wildfire that broke out on the Suffolk coast Wednesday evening has burned through roughly 150 hectares, the equivalent of about 210 football pitches, according to Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. Crews were still working the scene as of Friday, with the fire service saying conditions were stabilizing but remained "dynamic."

The fire started around 5:00 p.m. BST Wednesday on Dunwich Heath near Leiston and spread quickly, pushed by south-westerly winds. Suffolk's chief fire officer, Jon Lacey, said Thursday evening that difficult terrain and limited access routes were slowing crews trying to reach parts of the blaze.

More than 100 firefighters have been deployed, backed by at least 12 fire engines that were set to remain on scene into Friday managing smaller flare-ups, the fire service said. Reinforcements have come from neighboring brigades, with additional engines sent from London. The service said it had also requested national support, including wildfire specialist appliances, officers, and tactical advisers.

A helicopter has been dropping 1,000 litres of seawater on the fire at a time and was expected to keep operating into Friday.

Evacuations and Power Cuts

Between 100 and 150 people were evacuated from homes and a holiday caravan park after the fire broke out, according to Lacey. Around 50 people have received support through a rest centre, which remained open as of Thursday's update.

UK Power Networks cut supply to 116 properties in the Darsham area at the request of the fire service due to the proximity of the blaze to overhead lines. As of Thursday, the fire service said supply had been restored to 111 of them.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said it expects the response effort to continue for at least another 48 hours from Thursday evening's update, meaning crews are likely to still be on scene through the weekend.

Sizewell B Under Watch, Not at Risk

The fire is burning about three miles from Sizewell B nuclear power station. A spokesperson for the plant said it is monitoring the "dynamic situation" but that the fire is "not affecting operations." Fields separate the power station from the blaze, which has been contained to heathland further north. The plant faces no operational threat based on current reporting and company statements.

Wildlife Concerns

Dunwich Heath sits next to RSPB Minsmere, a nature reserve home to rare species including Dartford warblers, nightjars, and stonechats, along with reptiles such as adders, common lizards, and slow worms. Conservationists have raised concerns about the fire's impact on these habitats, though no official damage assessment for wildlife has been published yet.

Political Reaction

Communities Secretary Angela Rayner praised firefighters for their "skill and dedication and bravery." Green Party leader Zack Polanski called for an emergency Cobra meeting to address what he described as a broader pattern of wildfires breaking out across Britain this summer, including the Suffolk blaze.

The immediate priority for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is finishing the job in front of them. Full containment of a fire officials have called unprecedented in scale for the region awaits completion, with crews bracing for at least two more days of work before the incident is fully closed out.