Firefighters are tackling a blaze at a nature reserve in North Essex as crews continue to battle the “unpredictable” wildfire in Suffolk.Around 30 crew responded to a fire on Middlewick Ranges nature reserve in Colchester, Essex, urging people to avoid the area. It is the latest wildfire as England and Wales experience tinderbox conditions and swathes of the country remain in drought.Multiple fire brigades remain on site for a third day fighting a blaze in Suffolk after it spread to cover an area the size of 210 football pitches on Thursday. Firefighters identified and mapped trigger points on Thursday evening.The Sizewell B nuclear power plant a few miles away is on alert as flames and smoke tear through Dunwich Heath, where at least 90 firefighters are battling the blaze.Nuclear chiefs at EDF, who are understood to be monitoring the situation, said there was currently no risk to the power station. Authorities have declared a major incident and residents in about 200 coastal properties and caravans were forced to leave. Local wildlife habitats, protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, have been left devastated by the flames.Prime minister Andy Burnham promised that firefighters in Suffolk would have all the resources they needed. Green Party leader Zack Polanski called for Mr Burnham to hold an emergency Cobra meeting. Have you been affected by the wildfire in Suffolk? We’d like to hear from you. Please email bryony.gooch.ind@independent.co.ukSuffolk coast landscape left 'unrecognisable' by blaze, says National Trust The wildfire which tore through a reserve along the Suffolk coast has left the landscape “unrecognisable”, the National Trust has said.It is still too early to determine the true impact of the blaze, including to RSPB Minsmere, where the fire started, the conservation charity added.“We have been left heartbroken by the total devastation we are now seeing due to the fire at Dunwich Heath, which is one of the UK’s most important coastal heathland landscapes,” they said.“Although it’s still too early to say what the true impact has been to both RSPB Minsmere, where the fire started, and Dunwich Heath, it’s becoming clear that the fire has torn through the entire National Trust reserve and the landscape that we know and love is now unrecognisable.“We believe that very little heathland vegetation is left and many wildlife species will have been impacted, now and long into the future. Thankfully, the iconic Coastguard Cottages have escaped untouched.“I want to thank the Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, as well as the incredible effort from our team, the RSPB, Natural England, local farmers and the groundworks crew at Sizewell C, who have been working tirelessly to assist with cutting firebreaks and deploying equipment to dig trenches and supply water bowsers.“We have also assisted the fire service by bringing in air support. We believe these efforts will have ultimately saved many homes and holiday accommodation. The local community has also been incredibly supportive, banding together to support holiday-makers who were evacuated.“The hope now is that the fire can be contained soon.”Bryony Gooch31 July 2026 11:30Pictured: North Essex beauty spot catches fire(Essex County Fire and Rescue Service)Bryony Gooch31 July 2026 11:21Inside the mitigation procedures in Sizewell B as power station remains alertStuti Mishra, Asia climate correspondent, reports:After reports yesterday that Sizewell B was on alert over wildfires in Suffolk, Joan Cordiner FREng, professor of process engineering at University of Sheffield has revealed the process likely ongoing in the power station.“The main thing for Sizewell B is vigilance and being prepared to enact the training and procedures for just this sort of situation. “They will have triggers set off when they have to act on prevention and mitigative measures, when and if things escalate. Given the potential wind changes and speeds and burnable materials close to the site - they have to decide what action is needed and at what points. “The risk management plan for the site will have identified the potential for a fire to approach the site from different situations. They will have in place preventions- that will include fire breaks in forests and ground cover/ bushes etc. They also will include firefighting systems and of course the training of their personnel. “These procedures will have been practised and done in collaboration with the local fire brigades, local police and emergency services. “The company will be in constant communication with these groups, their headquarters and appropriate parts of the UK government and the emergency services in their emergency plan. “Typically, these emergency procedures will send non-essential staff home. Ensure all combustible materials are removed from the site particularly around the perimeter areas. In addition, they will decide if they need to start shutting down systems safety in good time. “It would be typical for the emergency services to be wetting down areas at a safe distance and putting in place their plan to for extra fire break systems. “All of this will be done in coordination with an incident command system set up for this type of event which will have the right key people directing the response. “The key here is having done the risk assessments, building in mitigations and preventions, developing an emergency plan, they need to enact the plan that they will have practised. This is critical to ensure good and clear decision making and response.”(AFP/Getty)Bryony Gooch31 July 2026 11:20Bryony Gooch31 July 2026 11:00Breaking: North Essex grassland set alight as firefighters rush to the nature reserveFirefighters are tackling a blaze on grassland in Colchester.Essex Fire Service said around 30 crew were tacking a blaze on Middlewick Ranges nature reserve south of the city.They urged people to avoid the area.Bryony Gooch31 July 2026 10:57In pictures: A drone view shows the scorched landscape left by ongoing Dunwich Heath wildfire(Reuters)(Reuters)Bryony Gooch31 July 2026 10:40Wildlife habitats in Dunwich Heath could take 25 years to recover - reportHabitats devastated by the wildfire in Dunwich Heath could take up to 25 years to recover, a wildlife expert has reportedly said.Adam Rowlands, from the RSPB, said the blaze had been "hugely consequential" for the wildlife."Most of them have finished breeding so they'll be able to escape the fire, and last night we could see nightjars flying above the fireball up on the heath," he told the BBC."But the problem is it will look like a scene of devastation afterwards. All the vegetation will go and the majority of those birds will lose the places where they nest."Some of that habitat will take five, 10, 25 years to come back to what it looked like before the fire broke out yesterday afternoon."Bryony Gooch31 July 2026 10:22‘All of Europe could catch fire this weekend’: Where is most at risk?As an EU agency warns that more of the continent could be ablaze at the beginning of August, Helen Coffey looks into where is most likely to be affected and when, in what is already being dubbed the biggest fire season in European history.Read more here:Bryony Gooch31 July 2026 10:05Fire crew thanks national effort as brigades across the country lend a handSuffolk Fire and Rescue has thanked fire brigades from across the country for sending crews, specialist equipment and resources as a wildfire rages on in Dunwich Heath.They particularly thanked:Essex County Fire and Rescue ServiceNorfolk Fire & Rescue ServiceLondon Fire BrigadeWest Yorkshire Fire and Rescue ServiceEast Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS)Surrey Fire and Rescue ServiceNorthamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service“We would also like to thank the many local businesses, farmers, volunteers, community groups and partner agencies who have stepped forward to help. Whether it's been donating food and drinks, lending equipment, providing practical support, or helping to look after those affected by the incident, everyone has gone above and beyond.”Bryony Gooch31 July 2026 09:45Bryony Gooch31 July 2026 09:30