Community opens its doors to help wildfire evacuees

As a wildfire raged across heathland near a coastline a community came together to help those who had been evacuated.

More than 100 firefighters battled flames at Dunwich Heath, Suffolk, which burned an area equal to 200 football pitches, with Suffolk Fire Service declaring a major incident "due to the size and complexity" of the blaze.

The service added it estimated between 100 to 150 people had been forced from the area, some leaving themselves and others being evacuated.

About 76 people have received support from Westleton Village Hall, including 16-year-old Archie, from west London, who had been staying at his grandparents' caravan on the Dunwich Cliffs estate and helped evacuate the site.

Archie said he had been standing outside the caravan on Wednesday when he spotted "a glow through the trees", and moments later a firefighter emerged.

"It was a bit too close for comfort, but I wasn't panicked," he said.

"[The firefighter] asked me to help go around, knocking on doors telling people to prepare a bag in case they had to evacuate tonight."

Archie said he had been coming to the caravan site since he was a young child and knew it well enough to be able to navigate it in the dark.

"I had to knock on everyone's doors. I had to get this woman and her two babies out of bed, get them in the car, an older woman, and get everybody out."

He said eventually the smoke was so heavy he could not see beyond 5ft (60in) in front of him.

Rob Gordon had been staying at Cliff House Holiday Park with his wife Lisa before they were evacuated on Wednesday night.

He said the police arrived at about 22:00 BST and escorted them to Westleton.

"We'd been out that lunchtime, drinking and eating in a bar," he said.

"Obviously we couldn't take my car, so we had to get escorted out by the police.

"Barry, a very kind gentleman has put us up in his cottage last night and for tonight so we're being well looked after, but obviously we would rather be getting on with our holiday.

"We've just got the clothes we were standing in really."

Barbara Buckley, a trustee of Westleton Village Hall, said the community response had been "unbelievable", with places to stay found for everyone, including five dogs and a cat.

"People came in very distressed, very disoriented. [There were] little children, families and older people with some disabilities."

She said those evacuated had been "absorbed into the community without any question and taken home".

Russell Howard, along with his wife Marie and daughter Alice, were caught up in the incident along with their dog Kira during a camping trip.

Marie said they had been out for the day on Wednesday when they saw fire engines and smoke.

"We thought we'll be OK and carry on as normal... we went on the beach and we could see the smoke more there," she added.

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Russell said they were warned they might be evacuated before they were escorted away from the site by wardens.

"It was a little bit scary," he said. "People on the campsite were going nuts and leaving quite quickly.

"We took our time and we still left quite a bit there like our tent... we then made our way to the beach car park where we spent the night, not really getting much sleep," he added.

Dilys Hall took in four people and two dogs who had to be evacuated and her sister's house, which was empty, housed another four people.

"We've got a village Whatsapp group and there were messages pinging all over about the fire and the implications across the board," she said.

"The community is brilliant here. The Whatsapp group before last night was about 42 residents and it went up overnight to 68," she added.

David Watson, who owns Mill Hill Farm Caravan and Camping Park, about three miles (4.8km) from the epicentre of the fire.

He offered his facilities to those displaced by the fire on Thursday so they could shower.

"Most people were in shock, really, but they were relieved to freshen up," he said.

He added that the coastal heathland was both the area's "biggest asset but our biggest vulnerability as well".

The Salvation Army emergency response vehicle arrived in the area on Wednesday evening and stayed until the early hours of Thursday and returned a few hours later.

The charity said the vehicle operates like a mobile canteen where firefighters, police and ambulance crews can get refreshments.

Tom Stokes, a Salvation Army volunteer who lives in Stowmarket, says the team has been giving out hot dogs, sandwiches and drinks to the firefighters.

"We've served about 120 people and are still going strong," he said.

Paul Ashton, the deputy leader of East Suffolk Council, said villagers in Westleton had provided accommodation for 47 people on Wednesday night in their homes.

"No-one had to sleep in the village hall. They've cooked them breakfast, they've cooked them lunch, they're planning on what to get them for supper," he said.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, the Suffolk Coastal MP, said "a huge thank you" to the residents who helped out evacuees.

Henry Griffin, Suffolk's deputy chief fire officer, also said the community had "rallied" round to help the firefighting effort.

"Crews have worked extremely hard," he said.

"It's not just a fire service response. We have bulldozers, we have water bowsers, we have the rest centre [in Westleston].

"All of this community response has been absolutely fantastic."

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