Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident from 15:15 BST after crews were called to tackle 16 simultaneous emergencies across the county, including a large open fire on Mousehold Heath near Gurney Road in Norwich and a blaze at a primary school in Shipdham, Thetford. Thick smoke was visible over Norwich as firefighters worked to contain the heath fire, while ten officers dealt with the school incident, which damaged three classrooms but caused no injuries since the site was closed for the summer holidays.
Norfolk Police shut Mousehold Lane and Gurney Road in Norwich to give fire crews clear access to the heath fire, and motorists were advised to find alternative routes while operations continue. The fire service confirmed it would still respond to emergencies but warned that resources were being prioritised according to risk to life and property.
We are still available to attend emergencies but will prioritise life risk and property. We ask that the public only call 999 for genuine emergencies.
What happened at the Shipdham school fire?
A fire broke out at Thomas Bullock Primary Academy in Shipdham, Thetford, requiring ten firefighters to bring it under control. Three classrooms were damaged, but because the school was shut for the summer break, no pupils were on site at the time. Residents living near the site have been urged to keep windows and doors closed if they notice smoke drifting from the affected buildings.
Why is the fire service under so much pressure?
The simultaneous nature of the incidents has stretched Norfolk's fire crews thin, with the service acknowledging that non-urgent calls may not receive an immediate response while resources are concentrated on the most serious cases.
Response times to non-life risk incidents may be delayed as we prioritise our limited remaining available resources.
Officials say the current strain reflects a broader pattern seen this summer. In July alone, the service mobilised crews 2,730 times to respond to 1,270 emergencies, a total that included providing standby cover at other stations and rolling support during larger incidents.
This was 768 more times [crews were mobilised] than in July 2025.
What is the fire service asking the public to do?
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service has appealed to residents to avoid activities that could spark further fires during the current dry conditions, including lighting bonfires or campfires, using disposable barbecues, or discarding cigarettes and rubbish in open areas.
All of these actions increase the risk of fires in the open as we have seen in recent weeks.
Norfolk's declaration follows a wider trend of major incidents linked to wildfires across eastern England this summer. Earlier this month, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service declared its own major incident as crews battled two wildfires near Mansfield during what was recorded as the driest July on file. In Suffolk, firefighters spent nearly two weeks fighting a large blaze at Dunwich Heath before standing down the major incident status once the fire was brought under control, though crews remained on site to monitor for hidden hotspots. A separate fire also broke out for a second time in two weeks at Holme Fen Nature Reserve near Peterborough, with the earlier incident there being investigated as suspected arson.
Key Facts
- Major incident declared at 15:15 BST due to 16 simultaneous emergencies across Norfolk.
- Fires included an open blaze at Mousehold Heath, Norwich, and a school fire in Shipdham, Thetford.
- Three classrooms damaged at Thomas Bullock Primary Academy; no pupils present due to summer holidays.
- Mousehold Lane and Gurney Road closed by police to assist firefighting operations.
- Crews mobilised 2,730 times in July 2026, 768 more than in July 2025.
