- The blaze started at about 17:00 BST on Wednesday and engulfed more than 250 acres (100 hectares), including parts of the RSPB's Minsmere nature reserve.
- At the height of the fire, more than 100 firefighters were deployed, homes and 200 caravans were evacuated, no injuries were reported, and a relief centre opened at Westleton Village Hall.
- Wildlife habitats devastated by the fire could take up to 25 years to recover; some habitat is set to take five, 10 or 25 years to return to its previous state.
- The heath is home to Dartford warblers, nightjars, stonechats and native reptiles including adders, common lizards and slow worms; rare butterflies were likely in the egg stage and bird populations were at risk.
- Rowlands said most birds had finished breeding and could escape, but the site would look like a scene of devastation, with vegetation gone and many birds losing nesting places.
- Retired ecologist Chris Keeling, vice chairman of Suffolk Bird Group, said the destruction was utterly sickening; RSPB's Adam Rowlands said the blaze was hugely consequential and the biggest at Minsmere in living memory.
- The cause has not been established, and Keeling urged people not to have barbecues or smoke in the open. The fire followed a Wildfire Free Suffolk campaign, and crews attended 310 open-land fires in 2025, up 105 on the previous year.
- Suffolk Wildlife Trust said the fire was heartbreaking to see, while the National Trust's Russell Clement said the landscape was significantly damaged and would have a knock-on impact on wildlife.
Firefighters are currently battling a large wildfire at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, which ignited around 17:00 BST on Wednesday, consuming over 250 acres (100 hectares).12
Adam Rowlands, from the RSPB, described the blaze as "hugely consequential" for local wildlife, which includes rare birds and reptiles.101112
Retired ecologist Chris Keeling expressed his sorrow, stating, "I find it utterly sickening, and it just makes me feel so desperately sad to see that destruction."
The fire has devastated habitats that could take up to 25 years to recover, with some areas potentially taking as little as five to ten years.
At the height of the inferno, over 100 firefighters were deployed, leading to the evacuation of homes and 200 caravans. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and a relief center has been established at Westleton Village Hall.3
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but Keeling urged the public to avoid barbecues and smoking in open areas.
This wildfire follows a campaign by Wildlife Wise to raise awareness about fire risks, as Suffolk has seen a significant increase in outdoor fires, with crews responding to 310 fires between January and mid-November 2025, up by 105 from the previous year.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust lamented the destruction of precious habitats, while Russell Clement noted the landscape's damage would have a lasting impact on local wildlife.151617
“The fire, which started at about 17:00 BST, engulfed over 250 acres, including parts of the RSPB's Minsmere nature reserve, home to rare species. Retired ecologist Chris Keeling described the destruction as 'utterly sickening,' while Adam Rowlands noted it was the biggest blaze at Minsmere in living memory.”
