Scenic 2-mile English coastpath is CLOSED due to ‘public safety reasons’ as massive wildfire scorches 150 hectares

A POPULAR coastal path has closed over safety fears following a major wildfire. The scenic English walkway has banned public access for most of the month due to the hazardous conditions left by the blaze. A popular English coastal path has been closed following a wildfire Credit: AFP Fire crews battled to extinguish the blaze on Dunwich Heath in Suffolk last week Credit: PA The King Charles III Coast Path in Dunwich was made unavailable from July 30 and will remain shut off until August 22. The decision was made to close the trail after the wildfires on Dunwich Heath. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Fire crews were called to the Suffolk heathland on July 29 as the blaze rapidly spread across the coastal area. Firefighters are now “focused on monitoring and extinguishing hotspots” and are using drones to identify any areas still alight. The King Charles III path, which spans around two miles, has been closed off by Natural England due to “public safety reasons”. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Suffolk’s Fire and Rescue service said the danger is “far from over” following the “major incident”, due to the area’s scorching hot land. Patches of the heathland are still at temperatures as high as 60C, with some parts much hotter beneath the surface. “We want to make it clear that while the incident remains stable, the danger is far from over,” the Suffolk Fire and Rescue statement said. Most read in The Sun “Firefighters are still dealing with hotspots across the site every day. “What may look like ‘safe’, burnt ground can be hiding temperatures in excess of 60C at the surface, with temperatures significantly higher just a few inches below ground,” the spokesperson added. “Underground tree roots, animal burrows and scorched earth continue to smoulder beneath the surface, creating hidden hazards that are not always visible from above. “Please do not visit Dunwich Heath and do not enter closed areas. The landscape has changed dramatically as a result of the fire. “Areas that were once familiar can now be difficult to navigate, making it easy to become disorientated.” Comment now