Dunwich Heath closed following devastating wildfire

The National Trust has issued a warning for the public to avoid Dunwich Heath in Suffolk following a devastating wildfire that destroyed more than 100 hectares of heathland habitat. While the fire service has stood down the incident as a major incident, crews remain on-site to monitor hotspots and damp down affected areas.

Significant hazards remain at the site, including unstable cliffs, trees with burnt root systems vulnerable to collapse, and heat retained in rabbit burrows. Additionally, the fire has exposed unexploded ordnance dating back to the Second World War's Operation Kruschen. Specialist teams have secured some discoveries, but further risks may exist.

General manager Russell Clement stated that the assessment of the full site is expected to take several weeks. The National Trust emphasized that the reserve must be fully mapped and hazards recorded before visitors can safely return.