Actor Ralph Fiennes’ luxurious home is close to the devastating Suffolk wild fires which left around 200 families, including residents and holiday makers near the heath evacuated
Ralph Fiennes’ property is close to the wild fires(Image: Getty Images for BFI)
Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes has fears for his lavish property as the Suffolk wildfires continue to wreak havoc in the area. Firefighters worked hard to stop the flames from reaching his home as they engulfed the area.
The two-day blaze had the actor fearing huge damage, with it said Ralph was reportedly being kept informed from afar. The property, which is near the Dunwich Heath nature reserve, remains in an exclusion zone created by police on Friday. There remains road blocks preventing access to it.
More than 100 firefighters, including some from as far afield as London, Sussex and West Yorkshire, continue to fight the blaze in Suffolk, with parts of the sprawling rural area devastated.
A source told The Sun: “Ralph’s house is one of the closest to the fire. The flames were a field away at one point. He’s lived here for years, and we see him out jogging from time to time.”
They added: “We don’t know if he was at the house on Wednesday as he has a place in London but it must have been an anxious time for him.”
Around 200 families, including residents and holiday makers staying in caravans and lodges near the heath, were evacuated around two miles to a pop-up rescue centre at Westleton Village Hall late on Wednesday night. At the time, police banged on their doors, telling them they were in danger.
Officials today said the winds are pushing the fire away from the Sizewell nuclear plant and added that the bird sanctuary, which includes marshes and other waterways, is acting as a natural firebreak between the fire and the plant.
Yesterday, Henry Griffin, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer, said: “There was significant progress overnight. The lower temperatures and lower wind speeds all helped.”
He explained that crews continue to monitor fire fronts for signs of re-ignition. But he said at the time, the situation was stabilising. The events have been described as “heartbreaking” by Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
The National Trust, which has been caring for Dunwich Heath since 1968, launched a public appeal to raise funds. They are keen to help restore the iconic site to its former glory. Hilary McGrady, the Trust’s Director-General, said: “We are looking at total devastation of a beloved and important landscape.
“We’ve lost precious habitats, wildlife, trees, and a place where people have made memories over generations. It’s heartbreaking. But together we can and will restore Dunwich, and crucially, make it more resilient and better adapted for the climate we’re facing now, and the climate we’ll be facing in future. We’re working hard to tackle climate change and prepare for more of it, but there’s more hard work to be done. We can’t do it alone.”
Some of those who were evacuated have been allowed to return to get their possessions. Among them was David Knapp, 59, and his wife Alison, 59, from Herne Bay. Speaking of his return to their motorhome, David said: “When you’re driving down, there’s no sign of fire.
“There’s no smoke, nothing. It’s totally clear. You pull in the campsite, and it’s absolutely deserted; all you see are empty tents. There’s no people.”
He added: “The motorhome stinks of fire. The window was slightly open, and the vent was open, so it stinks of smoke. I was going to change my clothes, put a new top on, but what’s the point.”
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