{"id":22582,"date":"2026-07-31T01:30:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T20:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=22582"},"modified":"2026-07-31T01:30:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T20:30:43","slug":"major-incident-declared-as-england-wildfire-swells-to-size-of-210-soccer-pitches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=22582","title":{"rendered":"&#039;Major Incident&#039; Declared as England Wildfire Swells to Size of 210 Soccer Pitches"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<section>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.time.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/blt917886995f0a0731\/6a6b7663a9b85f37bf315213\/England_Fire.jpg?branch=production\" \/><figcaption>Smoke rises from a wildfire at Dunwich Heath, Suffolk, where a major incident has been declared as firefighters battle a large heathland blaze on July 30, 2026. \u2014Joe Giddens\u2013\u2013Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>The emergency services in Suffolk, England, have declared a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SuffolkFRS\/posts\/pfbid0i6ZGrrZ5vfm95pMxm6Cyd8r1GFQd8T9sZr3SrUCarSQuNoyH5FZhXXyTkqibnSPpl\" target=\"_self\">major incident<\/a>\u201d as they struggle to contain a <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/07\/27\/france-spain-europe-wildfires-destruction-photos\/\">wildfire<\/a> that has swelled to around 370 acres, roughly the size of 210 soccer pitches.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChanging wind conditions continue to affect the direction and behavior of the fire, making it difficult to predict how it may spread,\u201d Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1095475936141065?locale=en_GB\">said<\/a> in an update Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>More than 120 firefighters have been on site tackling the blaze at Dunwich Heath, an area of coastal lowland in the east of England, since the fire <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SuffolkFRS\/posts\/pfbid0pLNQf4MKmv8urpYKtbdUeJPoVRHkiyoFTvuqDMTJHShKzr3sFY1Fd4YMvigCNrRKl?__cft__[0]=AZbEZ4qHqCQRvJ9piArEtBPzPmz91zimRgI2qSc3T8ZRLg2BN5wzNVtVciVRGbX1wKCM-aHwt2zq_JYnGJikPVGtvcxOgpGeCxlp0oow1DzBTJm3qTDRtNWKgzwKz1Nhk3XEr80R_7aXzdhVGUfiFZbdNP7NIEEWYv_PRwZAQr25hS0mbb1qsecS7K-lD5APvd4&amp;__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R\">broke out on<\/a> Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The blaze has spread across heathland and fields, forcing dozens of people to be evacuated from their homes, with vast stretches of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1726764755077066\/?__cft__[0]=AZYuwXP2O--mSU4S5IZ0sKIU9fZJQ2Ote2c3pnMzf5K0FIJ-hYqFCDeA_nYICnfUoNGkaPJC5GZrG08vaFWKaowK8e2DAVJGqi--rPw3sJoyunDym3T8pCvGoQFEUGq-REuX37bmmD1sJgtiG9rjGdvXxVt5s0j8j97ZWN8AnuOcxTx1gXzc92lGWl46C91waXlVPmcBH5vkKZI9X0JfkoT4&amp;__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R\">land left charred<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Chief fire officer Jon Lacey <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SkyNews\/status\/2082812928172998792\">described<\/a> the blaze as &#8220;one of the largest\u201d he remembers in the history of Suffolk.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe fire is still developing. It is a challenging environment to be able to extinguish that fire,\u201d Lacey said at a Thursday press conference. \u201cWe have surrounded it with resources, particularly on the fire front that is moving forward to make sure that we can protect the buildings, other forestry, and other items that need to be protected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/07\/20\/andy-burnham-uk-prime-minister-day-one-trump-invitation\/\">Andy Burnham<\/a> has <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GBNEWS\/status\/2082826588014481808\">said<\/a> the local authorities will have &#8220;all the support, mutual aid, [and] other services that they need,\u201d as they continue to work around-the-clock amid another U.K. heat wave.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/07\/29\/what-is-a-fire-cloud-wildfires-europe-more-dangerous\/\" target=\"_self\"><em>What Is a Fire Cloud and How Are They Making Europe&#8217;s Wildfires More Dangerous?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The wildfire has caused power outages in the surrounding areas, placing additional challenges on local services.<\/p>\n<p>U.K. Power Networks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk\/power-cut\/incident?incidentid=INCD-22365-I\">said<\/a> a power cut affecting 116 customers across three postcodes in the area is under investigation.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, officials have quelled concerns about nearby nuclear power stations.<\/p>\n<p>An EDF Energy spokesperson told TIME \u201cthe fire at Dunwich Heath is not currently affecting operations at Sizewell B power station but we are continuing to monitor the situation\u2014we are not on high alert.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service also said neither Sizewell B or Sizewell C\u2014a second nuclear power station under construction nearby\u2014are considered to be at risk.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the moment, Sizewell B and C are being monitored. We&#8217;re in consultation with them, but we&#8217;re not worried about fire spreading in that direction,\u201d Lacey said.<\/p>\n<p>Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, the Member of Parliament [MP] for Suffolk Coastal, praised the efforts of local officials and urged people to steer clear of the vicinity.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I am so grateful, as I know so many others are, for the work of the fire brigade and the emergency services,\u201d she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02iktVKXviWfTeWyeWC5KH3xCcjvFrB3iSYq2Sqdi7Aso8mLixVsCepVzFaKuchChQl&amp;id=61557275483560&amp;__cft__[0]=AZY6owK9g8_LORn2gd3tNHkciLzUcrtHvXs9bu_WyerY27nF9WW5MbXf2GpCjCR8Lw9D64GEKqDvCu3m_gylhc2et5zKgIOEcW_MwwGva_mt39D2elq-a_F9BG-D5KaE1Nseu4JTaMcl9R54CqcIKxtDF7LZwOePWxWvXo54xTueCCyF65sWHsvTSt5vvrW7nvXwRfTrpHX4gwdXFK_w3tyT&amp;__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R\">said<\/a>. \u201cPlease do avoid the area, and allow the fire and emergency services the space to respond.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The wildfire has also raised concerns among local <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GBNEWS\/status\/2082830195996725720\">farmers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Patrick Spencer, the lawmaker for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, described the wildfire as an &#8220;extremely worrying situation&#8221; and expressed he is &#8220;deeply conscious of the impact on our farming community.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;At such a critical point in the year, with harvest under way or about to begin for many, this is an especially difficult time for farmers whose land, livestock, or livelihoods are at risk,&#8221; he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/patrickspencercentralsuffolkandnorthipswich\/posts\/pfbid0nVTGKt74jum6iKKtcNN85J643vx4ZtjJBAWMTEo7DpoJW4PUjpJgjWf1pkF3kmajl?__cft__[0]=AZb5MfheEatMTNU9bL7f5ScwmcacgTOXL4IMYeEAPzT16XlJgi925VVJGnvEEA4oRjDymIcrGL2uCSPFsjGhNP6Yh5YAIxK_7bM6mJKbxYu9JgbAL3XC26LWELRVuHvw75TVpErG_Cl2y31Ickd810ZE10wBrrCIUcimwvDJHsU-hg&amp;__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R\">said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A series of <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/07\/27\/france-spain-wildfire-heat-wave-europe-climate-change\/\">heat waves<\/a> have recently gripped England, worsening wildfire conditions.<\/p>\n<p>The U.K. Health Security Agency on Thursday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/ukhsa-report-shows-2877-excess-deaths-caused-by-may-and-june-heatwaves\">said<\/a> it estimates there were 2,877 heat-associated deaths during two notable periods of hot weather in May and June 2026, putting the country on track to record its highest number of heat-related deaths since modern records began.<\/p>\n<p>Seven areas of England have officially been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/drought-declared-in-half-of-england\">declared<\/a> as being in drought, after \u201crecord low rainfall and exceptionally high temperatures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>British Water Minister Emma Hardy warned that the U.K. needs to be prepared \u201cfor this new normal\u201d moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common,\u201d she said. \u201cWe expect water companies to follow their drought plans, to go further and faster to reduce leaks, and to ensure supplies are not disrupted even in the driest of weather.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This is the third drought in the past five years, with former extreme dry spells happening in 2022 and 2025.<\/p>\n<p>At the start of the summer, in the wake of last year\u2019s blazes across North York Moors National Park in eastern England, the U.K. government <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/government-strengthens-wildfire-resilience-heading-into-summer\">strengthened<\/a> its wildfire resilience, announcing it would be placing \u201cteams of specialist firefighters will be positioned in key areas and ready to respond to fires across England.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/07\/27\/france-spain-europe-wildfires-destruction-photos\/\" target=\"_self\"><em>Photos Show the Destruction in France and Spain From Ferocious European Wildfires<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The wildfire in England comes as other European countries, including France and Spain, continue to battle <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/article\/2026\/07\/27\/france-spain-europe-wildfires-destruction-photos\/\">ferocious blazes<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Three firefighters died Wednesday while facing wildfires on the island of Crete and in the south of the mainland, the Greek fire department said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Smoke rises from a wildfire at Dunwich Heath, Suffolk, where a major incident has been declared as firefighters battle a large heathland blaze on July 30, 2026. \u2014Joe Giddens\u2013\u2013Getty Images The emergency services in Suffolk, England, have declared a \u201cmajor incident\u201d as they struggle to contain a wildfire that has swelled to around 370 acres,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22583,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.time.com\/v3\/assets\/bltea6093859af6183b\/blt917886995f0a0731\/6a6b7663a9b85f37bf315213\/England_Fire.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}