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Woman saw start of Suffolk wildfires and tried to stamp it out - but 'it went up like a torch'

The Mirror captured the images on Dunwich Heath, near Sizewell nuclear power station, after firefighters took us inside the cordoned-off site in Suffolk

[Emergency services near the scene of the wildfire at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston]

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Emergency services near the scene of the wildfire at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston(Image: Humphrey Nemar/PA Wire)

Burnt out, blackened and still smouldering, this is part of the heartbreaking aftermath of the Suffolk wildfire.

The Mirror captured the startling images on Dunwich Heath, near Sizewell nuclear power station, after firefighters took us inside the cordoned-off site, estimated to span 150 hectares - the size of 220 football pitches. Other poignant images showed firefighters covered in soot, rescue workers surrounded by the barren landscape and a camp site abandoned by residents and holidaymakers since the blaze began two days ago.

Local resident Charlotte Du Cann today told how she witnessed the fire begin and tried to stamp it out with a friend before calling 999 at around 5pm on Wednesday. Speaking about the aftermath, Ms Du Cann told us: "It's just devastating and absolutely heartbreaking. It's like a bomb site".

[Two fire service workers being driven away from the site covered in soot]

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Two fire service workers being driven away from the site covered in soot(Image: Humphrey Nemar/ daily mirror)

The writer and editor, 70, said she and a friend were alerted to the fire after hearing the crackle of the blaze before smelling smoke near a kissing gate in woodland. She said: "I heard it first... this crackle. I thought 'that sounds like fire'. I looked down and my friend said 'I can smell smoke'.

"We went down and saw this circle on fire, maybe 20ft across. We tried to stamp it out, but it didn't work. We didn't have enough force. We were trying to stamp it out for a few minutes, but then it just caught the heather... umph... up it went, it hit the Scots pine and just got out of hand." Ms Du Cann added: "It went up like a torch - the noise of it was horrible. It escalated fast - within minutes. It was furious."

Asked if she was scared, she said: "You can't be scared if you've got to act, you've got to get in and do it. But I was pretty stunned afterwards."

Ms Du Cann, who lives in the nearby village of Eastbridge, did not see any evidence of what caused the ignition. She said: "People are saying it's human induced, but we don't know. There was nobody else there, we didn't see anyone, didn't see a cigarette butt, camping equipment or a BBQ - nothing. It wasn't by the path, it was away, not somewhere somebody would casually smoke a cigarette."

[Smoke rises at the scene of the wildfire]

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Smoke rises at the scene of the wildfire(Image: Humphrey Nemar/PA Wire)

More than 100 firefighters, including some from as far afield as London, Sussex and West Yorkshire, are tonight still fighting the blaze in other parts of the sprawling rural area, which is a flagship UK nature reserve. They are also using water backpacks, 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes in order to get water to hard to reach areas while also being helped by a helicopter dropping up to 1,000 litre buckets of water over the area, which includes RSPB Minsmere.

Officials today said the winds are currently pushing the fire away from Sizewell nuclear plant and added the bird sanctuary, which includes marshes and other waterways, is acting as a natural fire break between the fire and the plant.

Around 200 families, including residents and holiday makers staying in caravans and lodges near the heath, were evacuated around two miles to a pop-up rescue centre at Westleton Village Hall late on Wednesday night after police banged on their doors telling them they were in danger.

Those who had remained in the area were finally allowed to collect essential belongings from their properties this afternoon after being escorted in and out by police officers in what officials described as "a very small window of opportunity" lasting just 15 minutes.

[A general view of tents that were evacuated near the scene]

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A general view of tents that were evacuated near the scene(Image: Humphrey Nemar/PA Wire)

Among them were holidaymakers Dave Johnson, 67, a retired IT technician, and his wife Jen, 55, an artist, own two lodges at Cliff House holiday park. The couple drove in convoy, escorted by the police, to pick up their essentials from their lodge.

Dave said: It looked better than I expected, although theres still fires breaking out. We didnt go as far as where most of the destruction is so you get the false impression its probably better than it is. From what we could see, [Cliff House] its alright at the moment, but theres talk of the fires still.

David Knapp, 59, and his wife Alison, 59, from Herne Bay, were also allowed to retrieve their motorhome. David said: When youre driving down, theres no sign of fire. Theres no smoke, nothing. Its totally clear. You pull in the campsite and its absolutely deserted, all you see is empty tents. Theres no people."

He added: The motorhome stinks of fire. The window was slightly open and the vent was open so it stinks of smoke. I was going to change my clothes, put a new top on, but what's the point.

[A burnt and discarded parking sign at an evacuated and deserted camp site]

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A burnt and discarded parking sign at an evacuated and deserted camp site(Image: Humphrey Nemar/PA Wire)

The National Trust, who have been caring for Dunwich Heath since 1968, today launched a public appeal in a bid to gain donations to help restore the iconic site to its former glory. Hilary McGrady, the Trusts Director-General, said: We are looking at total devastation of a beloved and important landscape.

"Weve lost precious habitats, wildlife, trees, and a place where people have made memories over generations. Its heartbreaking. But together we can and will restore Dunwich, and crucially, make it more resilient and better adapted for the climate were facing now, and the climate well be facing in future. Were working hard to tackle climate change and prepare for more of it, but theres more hard work to be done. We cant do it alone."

Countryside manager for Suffolk Matt Wilson added: "The impact on this site in particular is looking to be fairly catastrophic. We're looking at total devastation across the National Trust site."

Adam Rowlands, Suffolk area manager for the RSPB, said it is too early to know the full scale of the impact on wildlife. But he admitted: "Shockingly, one of our site team at first light spoke about the acrid smell and said it's not just smoke, you have a sense that animals have perished in the flames so it's not a pleasant sight.

[A bench remains amid the barren landscape]

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A bench remains amid the barren landscape(Image: Humphrey Nemar/PA Wire)

"We'll wait to see in time really. With a lot of this you can only really assess the impact once you see a full season, but I think we can be pretty assured we're going to see some shocking results." Mr Rowlands added the recovery will "take years, decades, in come cases."

Suffolk fire service deputy chief fire officer Henry Griffin said: "It remains a significant and dynamic incident. We've been working with the Met Office, looking at the wind directions to monitor and mitigate in the hotspots to prevent flare-ups and re-ignition."

He added: "There has been some heat damage to some buildings - scorched cladding, melted gutters, things like that. But based on the information I have at this point in time, there has been no total loss to any buildings, which is a remarkable feat."

Shortly before 5pm on Friday, a spokesperson said: "While the incident remains significant and resource intensive - and is still classified as a Major Incident for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and Suffolk Resilience Forum partners - conditions are currently improving and planning for the recovery phase has begun.

[Cottages were saved despite all around them being burnt to the ground]

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Cottages were saved despite all around them being burnt to the ground(Image: Humphrey Nemar/ daily mirror)

"Firefighters and partner agencies will continue to monitor the weather and situation closely over the coming days. Thank you to everyone affected for your patience and co-operation."

Meanwhile, England is on track for its driest July on record, the Environment Agency announced on Friday. It said reservoir storage stands at 72%, down from 75% a week ago and nearly 10 percentage points below the long-term average for the time of year.

It added three reservoirs were now classed as having "exceptionally low" levels, including Blagdon in Somerset (56% full), Hanningfield in Essex (65%) and Wimbleball in Somerset (54%).

A further seven reservoirs are "notably low": Ardingly in West Sussex (66% full); Blithfield in Staffordshire (63%); Clatworthy in Somerset (56%); Clywedog in Powys, which provides water for central and north-west England (69%); the Dove group of reservoirs in Derbyshire (77%); Grafham in Cambridgeshire (78%); and the Lower Thames group of reservoirs in Berkshire and west London (74%).

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