Suffolk wildfire live: Massive blaze on Dunwich Heath as hundreds evacuated

Suffolk wildfire live: Massive blaze on Dunwich Heath as hundreds evacuated Hundreds of holidaymakers have been evacuated overnight from a caravan site in the path of the flames as people living nearby are warned to keep windows and doors closed A major incident has been declared after a blaze engulfed a forest at a National Trust site and hundreds of holidaymakers were evacuated from a caravan site. Firefighters rushed to the scene of the blaze in Dunwich Heath, near Sizewell B nuclear plant, on Wednesday evening. The nature reserve that has been managed by the National Trust since 1968. The fire broke out at roughly 5:30pm with the cause unclear. Crews successfully evacuated 200 approximately caravans at the holiday park in the dead of night as the fire showed no signs of stopping. Emergency services remain at the scene. Fire crews have advised the public should avoid the area, keep roads clear for emergency vehicles, and keep windows and doors closed if smoke is nearby. The heath is about three miles from Sizewell B nuclear plant and 30 miles north-east of Ipswich. This is a live news event. Please check below for updates. Key Events National Trust has now officially confirmed the unsurprising, given the circumstances, closure of Dunwich Heath today. An "important notice" on their website reads: "30/07 - Dunwich Heath is currently closed as we assist fire crews at the scene of a wild fire in the area. "Please avoid the area at this time to enable access for emergency services." Suffolk Highways has shared a list of road closures that were put in place this morning to help emergency services respond to the heathland blaze safely. The authority added that the arrangements are subject to change. - Full closure - Minsmere Road/Westleton Road junction. - Partial closure - Dunwich Road from the junction of The Street, The Hill and Blythburgh Road eastwards to the Minsmere Road/Westleton Road junction. - Partial closure - Walk Barn Farm Lane from the junction of Mill Road and Vault Hill northwards to Dunwich Road. - Partial closure - Mill Road and Hard Piece Lane closed towards Dunwich from the junction of Mill Street and Baker's Lane eastwards to the junction of Mill Road, Vault Hill and Walk Barn Farm Lane. This could be extended as far as to the next junction of Vault Hill to the east if required. Suffolk Highways said: "Please avoid the area if possible and plan alternative routes for your journey. "Access arrangements and closures may change at short notice as the incident develops." A witness who has observed the fire at Dunwich Heath explained he believes the blaze "dramatically increased" overnight. A picture shared by X user Karl Adams at 2.55am shows the bright yellow flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky. Mr Adams said: "The fires at Dunwich Heath appear to have dramatically increased since a few hours ago. "I’m a few miles away but it’s now very visible. Thinking of the firefighters and hoping the wildlife made a quick escape." Another user replied to Mr Adams and shared more pictures around 3.45am. A new update has been posted on Suffolk County Council's incident page. It says a successful evacuation took place overnight, however it does not detail how firefighting efforts are progressing. A spokesperson said: "Following the update throughout the night, all individuals have been evacuated successfully. "We are advising all those who have been displaced as a result of the fire to attend Westleton Village Hall at 08:00am for further updates. "Residents are advised to stay clear of the area for their own safety and to allow our teams and partner agencies to carry out their essential work." If you're just waking up, here is the essential information you need to get up to speed on this story. - Firefighters were called to a blaze at Dunwich Heath, a National Trust nature reserve in Suffolk, at around 5:30pm on Wednesday. - At its height, up to 90 firefighters were battling the blaze, with 14 fire engines and 'specialist equipment' deployed. - A major incident was declared later in the evening. - A nearby campsite has been evacuated, and preparations have been made to evacuate 200 caravans at a holiday park in the vicinity, Suffolk County Council said. - The fire is a few miles from Sizewell B, the UK's largest nuclear power plant. However, it is not thought to be affecting the power station. - The council and police have urged the public to avoid the area, keep roads free for emergency vehicles, and keep their windows and doors shut if smoke is nearby. - Smoke has been seen and smelled as far away Lowestoft, some 20 miles from the scene. Check out the map below to get an idea of the geography. The Met Office has given its verdict on if it will rain over the fire on Thursday. Suffolk was formally declared a drought zone on Wednesday - but the county will see precipitation in the afternoon and late evening, Met Office maps show. That's some comfort for firefighters. However, it will stay warm for most of the day, with the mercury around 26C on-site and 28C inland. The weather maps below are both for around 3pm. Here is a selection of images of the fire. This image, shared a few moments ago, shows the extent of the blaze, as one eyewitness says it has worsened in the last few hours. Unsurprisingly, the National Trust has confirmed the Dunwich Heath car park will be closed on Thursday (July 30). The fire is raging while an amber health alert for heat is in force. It was issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), covering the east midlands, the east, south east and London. The alert remains in place until 9am on Thursday (July 30), with the agency previously warning that rising temperatures may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups. Dunwich Heath is a lowland heath, according to the National Trust. It's a big attraction to birdwatchers, because its 'acid grassland' is home to 'several rare bird species', the charity says. "A rare and precious habitat, the Heath is home to special species such as the Dartford warbler, nightjar, woodlark, ant-lion, adders and much more," adds the National Trust website. "Quiet and serene, wild and dramatic, this is an inspiring visit, whatever the time of year. From July to September, the Heath is alive with colour; a patchwork of pink and purple heather and coconut-scented yellow gorse is an unmissable experience." In normal circumstances, a tea rooms, play area, and some cottages for holidaymakers are open to the public. There is also a wartime trail along the beach, where walkers can find defences installed to defend the coast during the Second World War. Reports are coming in that residents in Lowestoft could see smoke from the fire before sunset, and can still smell smoke as far south as Pakefield, a southern suburb of Lowestoft. This map shows where the fire is, in relation to Sizewell B, Britain's largest nuclear power station, and Ipswich, the county town. There is no cause for alarm about the proximity of Sizewell B, according to experts. In response to reports of the fire on social media, one holidaymaker said they were camping 'across the road' until the 'fire crew came round the campsite asking everyone to evacuate tonight'. Suffolk Police has issued a statement on the fire, advising the public to stay away from the blaze. It said: "Please be aware of a significant wildfire that started on Dunwich Heath. Local residents are advised to follow advice from Suffolk Fire Service to keep all doors and windows closed. " Please avoid the area to allow emergency services to carry out their essential work safely and effectively." A short time ago, Suffolk County Council released a new update on the emergency response which said preparations are being made to evacuate 200 caravans if required. It said: "Firefighters remain at the scene, with relief crews now in attendance to maintain firefighting operations. The incident ground has been reorganised into a number of sectors to support the ongoing response. "As a precaution, crews have been focused on protecting properties including Coastguard Cottages, Mount Pleasant Farm and Cliff House Holiday Park. Preparations were also made for the potential evacuation of around 200 caravans at the holiday park should conditions require it. "Specialist drone support is being used to help assess fire behaviour and support operational decision-making through the night. Members of the public are still advised to avoid the area and keep roads clear for emergency vehicles."