A couple hailing from Essex shared their harrowing experience of narrowly escaping the Suffolk wildfire along with numerous other caravan park guests who were promptly evacuated.
Firefighters have been diligently combating the inferno in Dunwich Heath near Leiston since Wednesday evening, deploying over a hundred firefighters and a helicopter on the scene. The magnitude and intricacy of the blaze prompted a declaration of a major incident, with the fire reaching a peak size of 150 hectares, approximately equivalent to 210 football fields.
The evacuation efforts included clearing out homes and 200 caravans, with residents being urgently alerted to evacuate on Wednesday night following a knock on their doors.
As of the latest update, the fire service disclosed that a minimum of 12 fire engines would remain operational overnight into Friday to handle emerging smaller fires. Additionally, power had been restored to 111 out of the 116 impacted properties following earlier power outages.
The Suffolk Fire and Rescue service assured that the Sizewell B nuclear power station remained out of harm’s way from the wildfire due to the distance and direction of the fire’s movement. Despite this, officials emphasized the dynamic nature of the situation.
Stephen Bullock and Christine Miller, staying at Dunwich Cliffs Estate caravan park, narrated their experience of discovering smoke in the distance around 5 pm, followed by a sudden evacuation order at 11 pm due to the intensifying fire and toxic fumes enveloping the area.
Meanwhile, another holidaymaker, Ed from Epping, recounted hearing fire engines, receiving evacuation directives, and opting to spend the night in his car at Dunwich Tea Rooms after assessing the situation.
Lisa Gordon, vacationing with her husband and dog in their touring caravan, shared her concerns as they evacuated from Cliff House Holiday Park, expressing worry about the proximity of the fire to the park and the potential loss of property.
Mrs. Gordon highlighted the initial lack of panic upon being instructed to leave the park, only realizing the gravity of the situation while walking towards the reception amidst the encroaching smoke.
For the most recent updates on the Dunwich wildfire, readers can access the live blog provided.
