England wildfire: Firefighters make 'progress' battling 'dynamic' blaze

Firefighters in eastern England are gaining ground against a "dynamic" wildfire that has scorched about 150 hectares (370 acres) of heathland at Dunwich Heath. The blaze, which started on July 29, forced the evacuation of dozens of residents and visitors.

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It was a sea of red. It was all red along the horizon ... it's just horrific.

Local officials reported that changing wind conditions made the fire's spread unpredictable. The Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, responsible for the area northeast of London, stated that the response would likely continue for at least another 48 hours. The situation was declared a major incident late Wednesday after flames began threatening local properties, including a holiday park.

Residents described the scene as terrifying, with one witness waking to a "sea of red" along the horizon. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) noted the "utter devastation" to the vegetation, which is crucial habitat for many species.

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It's the vegetation structure that's so important for a lot of the key species that use the habitats here. If all that vegetation is removed, in essence those species lose their habitat.

The wildfire is burning less than 10 miles from the Sizewell B nuclear power station and the Sizewell C construction site, though officials do not expect it to spread to those areas. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham called it a "very serious incident" and pledged support for emergency responders. This incident occurs amid a broader trend of increased wildfires in England and Wales following a prolonged period of dry and hot weather.

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very serious incident