Huge fire erupts at Suffolk prison as drug dealers and murderers evacuated urgently

George Bunn
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:05:25 +0000

A major blaze erupted at a Category C men's prison in Suffolk, prompting an evacuation of inmates.

The fire broke out at HMP Highpoint at approximately 2.40pm within one of the prison blocks, with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service dispatching 13 appliances to tackle the incident.

Crews arrived from stations across the region, including Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich East, Ixworth, Clare, Newmarket, Long Melford, Sudbury, Woodbridge and Haverhill.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service also contributed two engines to support the operation.

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The impacted structure, constructed from timber and brick, measures roughly 25 metres by 100 metres.

Prison staff acted quickly to relocate inmates before firefighters reached the scene, ensuring everyone was moved to safety.

The fire service confirmed that all occupants had been evacuated and accounted for upon their arrival.

A spokesman from the Prison Service said: "Staff have taken immediate action and all staff and prisoners are accounted for, with no injuries reported."

The East of England Ambulance Service reported no casualties from the incident.

Paramedics have remained at the location to provide support to fire crews as they continue their efforts to bring the blaze under control.

To manage the scale of the incident, the commanding officer ordered the fire to be sectorised.

A fire service spokesman said: "This helps firefighters maintain control, improve safety, streamline communication, and ensure the incident is managed effectively as it grows and evolves."

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Personnel equipped with breathing apparatus have deployed hose reel jets, covering jets and thermal imaging equipment to prevent the fire spreading further.

The blaze was described as well developed when crews first arrived.

HMP Highpoint operates as a category C facility for male offenders, accommodating around 1,300 prisoners across two sites.

Highpoint South Prison holds convicted adult Category C male prisoners, including those who are serving life sentences.

The smaller Highpoint North site, originally known as HMP Edmunds Hill, holds those convicted of various offences, including drug-related crimes, burglary, and violence.