Hundreds evacuated after ‘apocalyptic’ wildfire near Suffolk nuclear power station

Major incident declared, with Sizewell B power station monitoring blaze and RSPB nature reserve badly hit Hundreds of people have been evacuated and a major incident declared after a wildfire spread over more than 80 hectares (200 acres) on the coast of Suffolk, just a few miles from the Sizewell B nuclear power station. The fire – which had been described by one witness as “apocalyptic” – was said to be stabilising on Thursday night. The statement was posted by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, which said at least 12 fire crews were remaining overnight in the area. Jon Lacey, the chief fire officer at Suffolk fire and rescue, said earlier in the evening: “The wind change has helped a little bit, unexpectedly, and also a helicopter [dropping water] is helping to dampen the fire down.” The wildfire came a day after half of England was declared to be officially in drought, including East Anglia and six other areas. On Thursday, Natural Resources Wales declared a drought across the whole of Wales, which is on course for its driest July since records began nearly 200 years ago. As the climate crisis supercharges “whiplash” wet-then-dry weather, the UK and Europe are seei