TEN families are back at home today after being forced to leave while a huge fire raged on heathland in Suffolk.
TEN families are back at home today after being forced to leave while a huge fire raged on heathland in Suffolk.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service started receiving calls about the massive blaze shortly after 9.30pm and a total of eight pumps were sent to the scene on Martlesham Heath, off Dobbs Lane.
At its height, the blaze covered two hectares of heathland and ten nearby homes in The Oaks were evacuated due to the intense smoke generated.
Firefighters from Colchester Road, Princes Street, Framlingham, Woodbridge, Needham Market and Felixstowe stations were involved in the operation and used six main jets to tackle the flames.
Police officers manned road blocks for public safety and to enable access to the heath for other emergency vehicles.
The force's helicopter was also involved in the operation, using a floodlight to assist the firefighting operation on the ground.
One resident, Mark Kendall, said he had been living in the street for 13 years and there were frequently fires on the heath, but this was the biggest he had seen.
He said: “The firemen came and knocked on my door and my wife answered. They asked us to move out - they were very non-pushy about it - they let me finish hosing down the plants in my garden.
“I have lived here for about 13 years and the fires used to be quite a common thing. We used to get quite a lot of them but they don't seem to be too common lately.
“This one was big but I don't think it ever got scary.”
Sergeant Jim Nicholls said: “The cause is unknown at this stage - it's somewhere in the middle of the heath and the wind has pushed it in this direction.
“We have evacuated houses in the line of the fire. This is the biggest we have had for a while - there have been lots of calls but the fire service has got it in hand.”
Firefighters extinguished the flames just before 11.30pm and crews began the task of damping down.
n. Send us your pictures of the fire to starnews@eveningstar.co.uk
Click here for a gallery of reader pictures of the blazeClick here for a gallery of reader pictures of the blaze
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