Fire crews battle through night as Suffolk wildfire spreads to ‘210 football pitches’ after terrified families evacuated

FIRE crews have been battling through the night to tackle the raging Suffolk wildfire – which has spread to the size of 210 football pitches. Some 120 firefighters have been dousing the devastating inferno, as shell-shocked families were evacuated from their homes near Dunwich Heath. Dozens of nearby homes and holiday parks were among those evacuated Credit: Facebook/Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service Some 120 firefighters have been dousing the devastating inferno Credit: PA The “large-scale, wind-driven” blaze – which broke out at 5.30pm on Wednesday – was declared a major incident the following morning. Dozens of nearby homes and holiday parks were among those evacuated as the fire devoured the tinder-dry grassland. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky for miles around, with nearby nuclear station Sizewell B put on “high alert”. Fire chiefs now say the scale of the raging blaze stretches a whopping 150 hectares – the equivalent of approximately 210 football pitches. The ‘large-scale, wind-driven’ blaze broke out at 5.30pm on Wednesday Credit: Halesworth Fire Station Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky for miles around Credit: PA Alex Drew told The Sun how he was woken by his terrified daughter Ayla, eight, at 3am on Thursday as the blaze threatened their caravan. He said: “We’d been out for the day and arrived back at around 5.20pm. “We saw some people looking out over a field and thought they’d maybe seen a deer or something. “But then we saw a little bit of smoke and realised there was a fire. Most read in The Sun “There was a woman on the phone to the emergency services and then we saw two fire engines race by.” But Alex said he “didn’t think much of it” and the pair both went to bed, before they were awoken to cops banging on their caravan door. “The next thing I knew, Ayla was waking me up,” Alex continued. “She’d been woken by the police banging on the door telling us we needed to leave immediately. Alex Drew told how he was woken by his terrified daughter Ayla as cops banged on their door Credit: Martin Fricker Changing wind conditions are making it difficult to predict how the fire may spread Credit: PA “She was terrified, as you can imagine. We packed up and got out straight away. “I told the police I’d had two beers, so they breathalysed me and said I was fine to jump in the car. “It was 3am, so we just drove down to the beach and watched the sunrise.” The fire service said its response to the fire would continue for another 48 hours at least. Changing wind conditions are making it difficult to predict how it may spread, the service added. On Thursday evening, Suffolk’s chief fire officer, Jon Lacey, confirmed 120 firefighters were involved in the response. He said: “Eighteen fire engines and 120 firefighters are involved in the response. “But difficult terrain and limited access routes are making it hard for crews to reach some areas of the wildfire.” He confirmed approximately 100 to 150 people had been evacuated from their accommodation. Prime Minister Andy Burnham vowed to send “all the support” necessary. Comment now