Summary

  • A Suffolk wildfire burning an area equivalent to the size of 140 football pitches is not yet under control, Suffolk fire service says

  • The fire is no risk to nearby nuclear power station Sizewell B, Suffolk's fire chief says - operator EDF says it is "closely monitoring the situation"

  • The blaze broke out on Dunwich Heath in Suffolk on Wednesday, with a major incident declared "due to the size and complexity" of the blaze - here's what we know so far

  • A nearby caravan park and holiday park have been evacuated, as one park manager says "we're still on full alert" - no injuries have been reported so far

  • Rob and Lisa Gordon, who were on holiday on the Suffolk coast before being evacuated last night, say: "We've just got the clothes we were standing in really"

  • Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he'll make sure the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has all the support it needs

Have you been affected?

Live Reporting

Edited by Peter Walker with writing by Rachael McMenemy and Alice Cunningham, and reporters at the scene

  1. Fire remains 'fast moving'

    A helicopter carrying a suspended large water bucket above a coastal area toward a fire. A large dome shaped building part of a nuclear power station can be seen in the distance behind the helicopter.Reuters

    In an update at 15:45 BST, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said its crews continued to work in "extremely challenging conditions".

    "Eighteen fire engines and 120 firefighters are involved in the response, but difficult terrain and limited access routes are making it hard for crews to reach some areas of the wildfire," it says.

    "The fire remains fast moving, and crews are working hard to contain it and protect surrounding areas."

  2. What does it look like around Dunwich Heath now?

    A fire engine travels along a road with its emergency lights going off. Smoke fills the air. Bushes and trees line the road.Reuters

    Photos taken from around Dunwich Heath and Westleton show that there is still a heavy emergency service presence in the area.

    Smoke remains in the area as the fire continues to burn and people are seeking rest and relief at Westleton Village Hall.

    Police are also at the scene having cordoned off areas including the beach up from Sizewell.

    A fire engine travels along a road that is cordoned off by a single female police officer who is wearing high-vis and black trousers.There is a blue sign that reads POLICE ROAD CLOSEDPA Media
    Two uniformed officers stand on a beach with their backs to the camera. On their right is a coastal cliff and in the distance Sizewell nuclear power station can be seen.Reuters
    A drone image of heathland that has been burnt in a fire. Several fire engine vehicles are parked in a field along with a tractor and white vehicle. Some firefighters are walking around the area.Reuters
    Members of the public talk while standing outside a village hall on a sunny day. There chairs are dotted about the place and some officials wearing hi-vis tops.Reuters

  3. Picture shows proximity to power station

    As we told you earlier, the operator of Sizewell B power station says the fire is "not affecting operations".

    Three miles (5km) of trees and fields separates the plant and the blaze, which is affecting the heathland further north up the coast.

    As you can see, the wind has been blowing the smoke out towards the sea.

    A bird's eye view of dry brown fields and trees, with white smoke billowing towards the sea, which is to the left of the frame. The power station and its white dome is visible in the very background.

  4. Green leader presses for government wildfire meeting

    Zack Polanski is wearing a dark-coloured jacket and a white shirt. He has stubble and short brown hair. He is captured mid talking and is standing outside.PA Media

    Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for Prime Minister Andy Burnham to host an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the outbreak of wildfires across the UK, including today's at Dunwich.

    "Across the country terrifying wildfires are raging, forcing people to leave their homes not knowing what they will come back to find," Polanski says.

    "Burnham should call a Cobra meeting and set out urgently how his Government will keep people safe amid this crisis."

    Burnham said in an earlier statement that he would make sure Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service had "all of the support" needed to tackle the ongoing wildfire.

  5. Kind donations left at relief centre

    Bags filled with pillows and other items in a pile within a village hall.Christina McSorley/BBC

    Pillows, toys and other items have been delivered to the relief centre at Westleton Village Hall this afternoon, for those affected.

    The advice from officials for those who have been evacuated is to visit the centre for support.

  6. 'Our village Whatsapp group was pinging through the night'

    Zoie O'Brien
    in Westleton

    A woman stands in an industrial looking kitchen. She has on tan trousers, a brown top and a grey baseball cap.Jamie Niblock/BBC

    Dilys Hall helped take in some of the people who had to be evacuated.

    Things were very cosy at her home where she housed four people and two dogs. Her sister's house, which was empty, had another four people.

    Her next door neighbour, who was also away, offered their house for another five people and a dog.

    "We've got a village Whatsapp group and there were messages pinging all over about the fire and the implications across the board," she says.

    "The community is brilliant here. The Whatsapp group before last night was about 42 residents and it went up overnight to 68."

    The 78-year-old, who has helped coordinate accommodation for other people, says many were either evacuated straight back to their homes or to friends and relatives.

    "Apart from the sheer fire, the smoke is really really problematic and that mostly seems to be what affected the people who were evacuated."

  7. What do we know so far?

    It has now been almost 24 hours since firefighters were called to Dunwich Heath.

    Here is what we know so far:

    • The fire service was called at 17:00 BST on Wednesday to Dunwich Heath
    • During a meeting at Westleton Village Hall at 13:30 BST, Jon Lacey, the chief fire officer, said the blaze remained out of control and while not getting any bigger, was spreading inland
    • Prime Minister Andy Burnham says the fire service will have "all the support" it needs
    • More than 100 firefighters remain at the scene and the fire service is expected to say for the next 24 to 36 hours
    • The Salvation Army is giving out food and drink to local people affected
    • Nearby caravan and holiday parks have been evacuated and no injuries have been reported
    • The fire is not affecting Sizewell B or C, but EDF is monitoring the situation
    The back of a woman in black police uniform. White smoke drifts across a single lane, with bushes either side on the steep banks.Reuters

  8. UK should prepare for more severe wildfires, says National Trust

    Emaan Warraich

    The National Trust's director general, Hilary McGrady, says the UK should prepare for more frequent and severe wildfires, as countries including France and Spain continue to respond to major blazes. She called on the government to strengthen its approach to tackling climate change.

    McGrady said: "We've all been watching in horror as our neighbours in Europe are battling the most extreme fires. Fires like these might once have seemed unthinkable in Europe and the UK - but that certainty is gone.

    "So we need action and we need political will. We must adapt, urgently, to these conditions."

  9. Council shares images of firefighters tackling blaze

    Firefighters in heathland where they are tackling wildfires. Fires burn in the distance causing thick black smoke to billow into the air.Suffolk County Council

    Scenes from part of Dunwich Heath where the fire has burned through have been shared by Suffolk County Council.

    Two firefighters use water hoses to dampen down heathland that has been on fire.Suffolk County Council

  10. 'Devastated' for communities says fire chief

    Vikki Irwin
    in Westleton

    Chief fire officer Jon Lacey at Westleton Village Hall says it is too early to say at the moment if more people will need to be evacuated around Dunwich.

    He adds that the fire is not getting any bigger, but it is travelling inland.

    "I am devastated for the communities that are affected by this," he adds.

  11. Prime minister pledges support

    A picture of Andy Burnham from the shoulders up. He is wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and dark tie, has thick-rimmed black glasses on, and has short, dark brown hair. The background behind him is blurred and he is looking forward with his mouth slightly open and his eyebrows raised.Getty Images

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service will have "all the support" it needs to deal with the wildfire at Dunwich.

    "We’ve got the situation under close monitoring, and I’m receiving regular updates," he says.

    “It is a very serious incident. I will make sure that Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service have all of the support, the mutual aid, the other services that they need, and any other resources that need to be brought to bear.”

  12. Fire still not under control, says fire chief

    A fire chief wearing a white shirt and black trousers stands in front of various microphones. He has his hands behind his back. He has short dark hair. There are journalists standing in front of him listening.Christina McSorley/BBC

    Chief fire officer Jon Lacey says the blaze is still not under control and that "dozens" of people have been evacuated from their homes and the caravan park.

    In total, 61 names have been registered at Westleton Village Hall where a rest centre has been established.

    He expects crews to remain at the scene for the next 24 to 36 hours, with 120 firefighters and 18 fire engines currently on the scene.Lacey reiterates that there is no risk to nearby Sizewell B or C.

  13. BBC Verify

    What satellite data says about wildfire's size and spread

    By Alex Murray and Barbara Metzler

    BBC Verify has been looking into what satellite imagery and other data can tell us about the wildfire’s impact and spread.

    Data from European wildfire detection platform EFFIS suggests at least 85 hectares has been burned so far.

    Suffolk County Council has just said about 100 hectares is currently burning. This discrepancy can be explained by the fact the satellite data is currently low resolution and therefore may not show the full detail on the ground yet.

    A satellite map of the wildfire on the suffolk coast, it shows a large red circle area that has ben burned near the sea. A locator on the right shows an area of 85 hectares has been estimated burned in the 7 days.EFFIS

    We have also examined what Nasa’s fire-detection platform FIRMS can tell us about the blaze.

    The first detection was yesterday at around 20:30 BST. This is more than three hours after the fire reportedly started, as it can take some time for a fire to grow enough to be detected.

    Because FIRMS looks for differences in heat levels on the Earth’s surface, some of these thermal anomalies appear to be over the sea - or places on land which are not necessarily burning - as the wind pushes extremely hot air and smoke away from the fire itself.

    A satellite map of the Suffolk coast. Thermal anomolies are marked by red, yellow and orange rectangles. A large area is obscured by them, including over the water.Nasa FIRMS

  14. 'We've just got the clothes we were standing in'

    Vikki Irwin
    in Westleton

    A man and a woman sit next to each other on chairs outside a building. They are smiling at the camera. The woman has short blonde hair and has a black dog on her lap. She is also wearing a red dress with white flowers on it. The man has short hair and wears a light brown polo top. He is holding a cup of coffee.Vikki Irwin/BBC

    Rob Gordon had been staying at Cliff House Holiday Park with his wife Lisa before they were evacuated on Wednesday night.

    He says the police arrived at about 22:00 BST and escorted them to Westleton.

    "We'd been out that lunchtime, drinking and eating in a bar," he says.

    "Obviously we couldn't take my car, so we had to get escorted out by the police.

    "Barry, a very kind gentleman has put us up in his cottage last night and for tonight so we're being well looked after, but obviously we would rather be getting on with our holiday.

    "We've just got the clothes we were standing in really."

  15. 'It's an absolutely heartbreaking situation'

    James Kelly
    Your Voice

    Smoke fills the evening sky with trees in the backgroundCandida Cook

    Candida Cook was evacuated from Cliff House Holiday Park last night as the Dunwich Heath wildfire spread.

    Earlier in the day, she noticed a burning smell during a beachside walk but couldn't see any smoke and wasn't sure where it was coming from.

    "We were left wondering if, and how, we could have reported the smell of smoke in the morning, and, more worryingly, whether it would have made a difference," says Candida, who lives in Framlingham.

    "The park, campers and organisers were impressively calm throughout and kept everyone in the cabins well informed. It's an absolutely heartbreaking situation."

  16. Support needed, says fire chief

    Speaking to the BBC earlier, Jon Lacey explained why extra firefighters and resources were needed from elsewhere in the UK.

    "A fire of this scale - it starts to eat up fire resources within Suffolk and we need to maintain business as usual for other kinds of incidents that occur and we're unable to do that at the moment satisfactorily."

    Jon Lacey stands in front of a red background with the yellow Suffolk fire and rescue badge on it. He is wearing a white shirt and black tie.Suffolk County Council
    The backs of people's heads sitting on rows of blue chairs, in a hall. At the front is a man in white fire officer uniform.Vikki Irwin/BBC

  17. National Trust 'heartbroken'

    Russell Clement, general manager for the National Trust on the Suffolk coast, says the fire spread across Dunwich Heath due to a change in wind conditions overnight.

    He say: "Sadly, the picture that's emerging is that the landscape has been significantly damaged, which will also have a knock-on impact on the wildlife that call Dunwich home.

    "This is obviously heartbreaking news, as so many people will have fond memories of this precious landscape, which is normally covered in purple heather at this time of year."

    Smoke rises from a wildfire at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston.PA Media

  18. Hot dogs and cold drinks

    A red Salvation Army Emergency Response Vehicle. A man is leaning over it open hatch passing drinks to two firefighters. They are leaning up to receive them.Salvation Army

    The devastating fire has been bringing out the best in local people.

    The Salvation Army emergency response vehicle was first called at about 19:00 BST and stayed on site until 02:30. It was called again at about 06:00.

    Tom Stokes, a volunteer for the charity, says the team has been giving out hot dogs, sandwiches and drinks to the firefighters, from its mobile canteen.

    He lives in Stowmarket and arrived at about 08:15 today, joined by up to 20 fellow volunteers. He expects to remain there until teatime.

    "We've served about 120 people and are still going strong," he says.

    "Everyone's really thankful for us for turning up as we're getting a lot of joy out of that - and chatting to them to break up their day."

  19. Nearby caravan park fully evacuated

    Liz Hatten, the manager of the caravan park Dunwich Cliffs Estate in the area, says on Wednesday night she received a message from the park's wardens with reports of smoke before they were told to evacuate.

    She says about 50% of their 137 caravans were occupied and visitors were sent to Westleton.

    It has been "terrifying" for all of them as the park is surrounded by heathland, she explains.

    "We're still on full alert," says Hatten.

    "We've asked if we could go back there to pick up medicines and they've said absolutely not.

    "Just past us is the National Trust land and that's where the fire is at the moment.

    "The wind is in the right direction and it's blowing everything away from us."

    Hattens adds that she has seen local farmers at the scene helping to make fire breaks and local roads have been shut.

  20. Pictures show challenge facing firefighters

    Images coming in today and overnight show the scale of the raging Suffolk wildfire - officials say it is now burning an area the size of 140 football pitches.

    Smoke rises from a wildfire at Dunwich HeathPA Media
    Screen grab taken from video provided by Ryan Lovejoy of the wildfire at Dunwich HeathPA Media
    Dry grass and green bushes are in the foreground. Three firefighters wearing brown and yellow uniforms stand near smoke billowing into the skySuffolk Fire and Rescue Service