On Thursday, 30 July, SALC supported the sharing of official information and updates relating to the major wildfire incident in East Suffolk, helping to cascade communications through parish councils, town councils and parish meetings to ensure local communities had access to timely and accurate information.

Wednesday 5th August

11.30 am key messages 

• The incident remains active but stable.

• The Major Incident declaration remains in place.

• Firefighters continue to monitor and tackle hotspots across the site.

• Road and footpath closures remain in place.

• Additional closure measures are being considered at some access points due to ongoing attempts by members of the public to enter restricted areas. Members of the public are asked to continue avoiding the area.

• Please continue sharing official updates from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and partner agencies through your communications channels.

Tuesday 4th August

6.30 pm Key messages

• The incident remains active but stable.

• There has been no significant fire spread today despite challenging weather conditions.

• Firefighters remain well-resourced and prepared for the weather forecast over the next 24 hours.

• The assessment of risk to nearby communities remains unchanged.

• Road and footpath closures remain in place.

• Members of the public are asked to continue avoiding the area to support safe firefighting operations.

10.12 am

• The incident remains stable and continues to be managed under Major Incident arrangements.

• Firefighting operations continue on site, with resources focused on monitoring and extinguishing hotspots across the affected area.

• Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service continues to be supported by National Resilience resources and partner agencies.

• The Information Centre at Westleton Village Hall closed last night. Those directly affected by the incident continue to receive information and support through direct communication channels.

• In recognition of the stable nature of the incident, coordination meetings are now moving to a reduced schedule, while appropriate operational oversight remains in place.

Key messages

• The incident remains live and firefighting activity continues.

• Members of the public and residents are asked to continue staying away from the affected area and to respect all road and footpath closures.

• Please continue sharing official updates from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and partner agencies through your communications channels.

Monday 3rd August update, 11.22 am

• The Major Incident remains in place and firefighting activity continues on site. The overall situation remains stable. 

• Overnight operations focused on identifying and extinguishing hotspots across the heath, supported by drone technology. 

• Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service continues to be supported by National Resilience resources. Current plans remain for six pumping appliances overnight, increasing to ten during daylight hours, alongside support vehicles and off-road capability.

• Farmers continue to provide valuable support, including water supplies to assist firefighting operations. 

• A firefighting helicopter has been deployed today and is also booked for tomorrow to help tackle hotspots in hard-to-reach areas. 

• Responding agencies are continuing to monitor the weather forecast closely, particularly the hotter conditions expected tomorrow. Current resources are considered appropriate and sufficient. 

• The visitor information centre remains open today and continued to receive visitors over the weekend. 

Key messages

• The incident remains live and members of the public are asked to continue staying away from the area.

• Road and footpath closures remain in place and access is restricted to support safe and effective emergency operations.

• Please continue to share official updates and "stay away" messaging through your communications channels.

Sunday updates - am and pm consolidated below

8.20 pm Here are some updates from this evening’s TCG meeting:

• UKPN have restored power to all 116 affected properties in the area. There were 5 properties outstanding that needed reconnecting, this was conducted between approximately 6pm and 7:15pm this evening

• The firefighting helicopter was not in use this afternoon, but will be on site from Monday morning, and has been requested for Tuesday

• Communications are being drafted to holiday home owners about gaining access to their properties – more details on this will follow in a future update

• As mentioned in an earlier update, close attention is being paid to weather conditions on Tuesday, but Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is resourced and prepared

• Highways are planning for resources to enable road closures to remain in place, if needed, until the morning of Saturday 8 August. This will remain under regular review.

3.25 pm Here are updates and messages from this afternoon’s TCG:

• This is still a live, Major Incident, but the situation remains stable and resourcing is appropriate

• 10 appliances, plus support vehicles and 4x4 capability, remains the plan for daytime resourcing going into next week

• This will reduce to 6 appliances, plus those additional vehicles, overnight

• National resource support will also be maintained

• The firefighting helicopter is due to return to the incident later this afternoon, and also from tomorrow morning. As before, this is to help access those hard-to-reach areas

• Consideration is being given to weather events on Tuesday, when it is expected to be much hotter

• The Information Centre has been busy today, including a number of people who have turned up just to see what is going on

• This is why the “stay away” messaging is important to please keep sharing

• Although not directly linked to the incident, with the Amber Heat-health alert announced for early next week, health colleagues are keen for this general advice to be shared widely:

• NHS Stay well this summer

• NHS Advice for vulnerable people

12.30 am couple of updates from the latest SCG (Strategic Coordinating Group):

• Major Incident status remains, and will do so for the foreseeable future

• Likely that the incident will be ongoing into next Wednesday evening at the earliest

• Weather will be getting warmer and with some brisk winds into next week, particularly Tuesday

• An Amber Heat-health alert has just been issued for the East of England, in effect from 3 August 2026 at 09:00am to 5 August 2026 at 09:00am

• A small number of people, who originally self-evacuated, have made themselves known and discussions are underway to escort them to their property to collect personal belonging – when it is safe to do so

9.48 am Updates following this morning’s TCG (Tactical Coordinating Group) meeting:

• There have been no significant changes and the scene remains stable

• Firefighting activity continued overnight, actively dealing with hotspots that pop up across the site

• At 9:00am this morning – as planned – resourcing was uplifted to 10 fire appliances on scene for daylight hours, and monitoring and dealing with hotspots will continue

• Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service continues to be supported by resources from across the country

• Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service were called to two other notable incidents yesterday afternoon and overnight – but as good cover remains in place across the county, SFRS is able to respond to such emergency calls

Key messages

Please continue to share the “stay away” messaging for the public’s attention. We have spoken to local media, who are also supporting us with this in their news updates and bulletins.

Details are in the previous updates below.

Saturday updates - am and pm consolidated below

9.35 pm

Good evening everyone

Updates following this evening’s SCG (Strategic Coordinating Group) and TCG (Tactical Coordinating Group) meetings:

• The scene remains stable, despite variable winds during the day

• Firefighting resources will be scaled down to six appliances overnight

• This is based on what is being seen on the ground, and thanks to the progress made during today, including completion of the fire break around the site

• Overnight activity will include monitoring and damping down of any hotspots that flare up

• Business as usual for the Fire Service is covered, and is in a good place overnight (i.e. availability to respond to other emergency calls)

Key messages

• Please continue to share “stay away” messaging.

Next update

• The next TCG meeting will take place at 0900 on Sunday, and updates to you will follow that.

6.15 pm 

Please note the key message below - if you are able to help with sharing through any of the communications channels at your disposal.

Updates

• A continuous presence of 10 to 12 appliances remain on scene, along with two water carriers and two off-road vehicles (Unimogs)

• This means around 90-100 personnel and firefighters at the site

• They are fully resourced and prepared

• The site and fire are now fully surrounded by firebreaks, up to 12 metres wide

• Mitigations remain in place to protect buildings

• Crews continue to respond to smaller fires that break out

• Proactive plans are in place looking at where fire is likely to go

• The Information Centre at Westleton Village Hall (formerly the Rest Centre) is now closed for the day. Its opening hours on Sunday will be 8am to 5pm

Key message – a request from the TCG group

• For members of the public to stay away from the area

• Resources on the ground are noticing walkers, dog walkers, cyclists, drone users, etc. getting close to the scene

• The message remains that this is a live incident, roads and footpaths remained closed

• If you, or your organisation, have communications channels at your disposal:

• Please keep sharing the incident updates from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service on the website and Facebook page – we will be making the ‘stay away’ message a feature in all future updates

• You are welcome to share a message such as:
  “The major incident near Dunwich remains a live firefighting scene. Members of the public are asked to stay away from the area - roads and footpaths remain closed. This keeps access clear and enables emergency services to operate safely and efficiently.”

Please note one correction to an earlier update from today:

“British Red Cross serving 175 meals last night and providing welfare supplies”
should have read
“Rapid Relief Team serving 175 meals last night and providing welfare supplies”

10.40 am

• Situation is stable - crews are expected to be on scene for another 2 to 3 days

• 10 appliances are currently deployed

• No current concerns for Dunwich

• Helicopter support has been requested and is awaiting confirmation. Without it, resource requirements could increase to 15 to 20 pumps and increase in number of crews

• The Westleton Village Hall is now open as an Information Centre (previously the Rest Centre), with East Suffolk Council officers on site providing welfare support

• Some fantastic support from voluntary sector:

• British Red Cross serving 175 meals last night and providing welfare supplies

• REACT helping secure accommodation

• British Red Cross's Norfolk team was on site to deliver towels

• SuLSaR supporting firefighters with drone imagery

• Salvation Army providing on-site welfare and catering

Friday 31st July 7 pm update

• A tactical plan is being developed to address scaling down fire service resources on scene overnight. A number of crews will remain on scene.

• Good progress is being made with firefighting, with the helicopter providing assistance to inaccessible areas, and significant firebreaks have been created to see through the night

• The vast majority of those displaced by the incident are travelling home having been escorted earlier today to get their vehicles and possessions

• As such, the Rest Centre at Westleton Village Hall is being stood down and closing for Friday evening at 7pm

• Westleton Village Hall will reopen at 8am on Saturday morning as an Information Centre

• Dunwich Flower Festival has been cancelled, this was due to take place this weekend

• Public is still requested to stay away from the area, to avoid congestion and impeding emergency services

Health advice remains the same, if affected by smoke keep doors and windows closed

Friday 31st July 4 pm update

• Fire crews remain at a major incident, but the most significant risk around the Coastguard Cottages area has stabilised following intensive firefighting activity, the creation of substantial fire breaks using heavy machinery, and the deployment of the firefighting helicopter. No properties have been lost.

• The operational response was temporarily increased due to concerns around fire spread near Coastguard Cottages. This increase is now under review as conditions have improved.

• The firefighting helicopter is now actively operating over areas that are difficult for crews to access on the ground, helping tackle hotspots and reduce pressure on resources. 

• A controlled operation is underway to allow evacuated holiday park residents to collect vehicles and essential belongings. Police-led convoys and shuttle minibuses are transporting people into and out of the site in phases. Early indications are that the process is progressing well and is expected to be substantially completed this afternoon, subject to conditions remaining favourable. 

• The smoke plume has shifted direction during the day. Updated plume mapping has been circulated to partners. Public health agencies reviewed the situation and, at present, no additional air quality measures are considered necessary beyond existing advice for those affected by smoke to keep windows and doors closed. Further checks with national air quality advisers will take place. 

• The Dunwich Flower Festival will not take place this weekend. The decision has been taken due to smoke impacts, public safety considerations and the pressure on emergency and health services.

• Planning has begun for the recovery phase, with East Suffolk Council leading arrangements for a Recovery Coordinating Group once the incident reaches a suitable stage. 

• There have still been no reported casualties, no injuries to responders or members of the public, and no ambulance patients resulting from the incident. 

• Forecast weather conditions are expected to become more favourable overnight, with lighter winds and cooler temperatures. However, agencies are continuing to monitor conditions closely as stronger winds may return later in the weekend and temperatures could rise again early next week.

• The incident remains a Major Incident for both Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and Suffolk Resilience Forum partners. The current assessment is that this status remains appropriate.

Key message: The fire remains significant and resource intensive, but current operations have successfully prevented loss of property in the most threatened area, and work is now progressing to reunite evacuated residents with their vehicles and belongings while preparations begin for eventual recovery arrangements.

Friday 31st July am  update

• We are still under a Major Incident as declared by SFRS (Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service) and SRF (Suffolk Resilience Forum)

• It remains a dynamic situation but is in a stable position and firefighting is making good progress in very hot conditions from both above and below

• This morning’s weather conditions have been favourable allowing for aggressive firefighting to tackle the fire

• 12-15 fire appliances currently on scene, plus support vehicles

• Firefighting likely to go through the weekend and possibly into next week, but if good progress continues, will be scalable and resource numbers can begin to de-escalate

• No further spread of smoke outside of where SFRS has been working

• No casualties reported

• National FRS (Fire and Rescue Service) assets are on scene to support, with other assets ready to be called upon if needed

• Helicopter is not currently being used but is available today if needed

• Closed roads and footpaths will remain so, until further notice, to aid firefighting efforts

• No current concerns about needing to make any further evacuations

• Discussions underway about planning for evacuees to return to residences to collect personal belongings and vehicles – but no timeline on this yet, and only when safe to do so

• Rest centre was quiet overnight, with no-one needing to stay. It is busier today with evacuees in attendance for more information. They will get an update at 10:30am

• A voluntary organisation cell will be created to handle offers of donations, local support, etc.
  

• Regular liaison with Sizewell B and there remains no cause for concern.