Hundreds of people have been evacuated and a major incident declared after a wildfire burned more than 200 acres on the Suffolk coast near the Sizewell B nuclear power station.
Live updates
Loading updates…
Key facts
- A wildfire spread over more than 200 acres on the coast of Suffolk.
- The blaze is a few miles from the Sizewell B nuclear power station.
- Hundreds of people were evacuated and a major incident was declared.
- The fire was not completely under control as of late Thursday afternoon.
- An RSPB nature reserve was badly hit.
Hundreds of people have been evacuated and a major incident declared after a wildfire spread over more than 200 acres on the coast of Suffolk, just a few miles from the Sizewell B nuclear power station, according to the Guardian.
The fire, which one witness described as ‘apocalyptic’, was still not completely under control as of late Thursday afternoon, said Jon Lacey, chief fire officer at Suffolk fire and rescue.
The Sizewell B power station was monitoring the blaze, the Guardian reported. The plant sits close to the affected area on the Suffolk coast.
An RSPB nature reserve was badly hit by the fire, according to the report. The area is home to protected habitats and wildlife along the coast.
Emergency services declared a major incident as crews worked to bring the fire under control. The declaration reflects the scale of the response required and the potential risks posed to people and infrastructure in the surrounding area.
As of the latest update from Suffolk fire and rescue, efforts to fully contain the fire were continuing.
Why it matters
Wildfires close to critical infrastructure such as nuclear power stations raise serious safety and environmental concerns for nearby communities. The scale of the evacuation and the damage to a protected nature reserve highlight the growing risks posed by fires along vulnerable coastlines.
Frequently asked questions
How large was the Suffolk wildfire?
According to the Guardian, the wildfire spread over more than 200 acres on the coast of Suffolk.
Was the Sizewell B nuclear power station affected?
The fire was a few miles from Sizewell B, and the power station was monitoring the blaze, the Guardian reported.
Was the fire under control?
As of late Thursday afternoon, the fire was still not completely under control, according to Suffolk chief fire officer Jon Lacey.
Timeline
- Suffolk wildfire near Sizewell nuclear plant ‘stabilising’ after 24 hours
The Guardian World: More than 100 firefighters remain at scene after Dunwich Heath blaze spread across 150 hectares and forced evacuations Fire crews tackling a large wildfire burning for more than 24 hours near Britain’s biggest nuclear power station have said the situation is “stabilising”. More t
- Hundreds evacuated after ‘apocalyptic’ wildfire near Suffolk nuclear power station
The Guardian World: Major incident declared, Sizewell B power station monitoring blaze and RSPB nature reserve badly hit Hundreds of people have been evacuated and a major incident declared after a wildfire spread over more than 200 acres on the coast of Suffolk, just a few miles from the Sizewell B