The UK government is preparing for wildfires similar to those that have torn through France and Spain, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Hamish Falconer confirmed. The UK is bracing for its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to reach highs of 32C or 33C in southern England.
Wildfire Risk in the UK
Wildfires have already forced people to evacuate from their homes in Wales and Scotland, with emergency crews fighting large blazes. Scottish First Minister John Swinney confirmed that "military assistance in aerial support" had been called in to fight a raging wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.
Around 42,000 hectares have been burnt in southwest France, in one of the largest forest fires since the Second World War. In Spain, around 70,000 hectares have burned this year. The UK's National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said that "most wildfires are preventable" and is asking everyone to play their part in helping to protect communities and wildlife.
Heatwave and Climate Change
A Met Office meteorologist said UK heatwave thresholds will need to be adjusted to take into account the warming climate, which has seen temperature records repeatedly broken this year. The NFCC warned that the prolonged hot, dry conditions pose a significant challenge, with firefighters battling nearly 20 wildfires at once during the third heatwave in mid-July.
A yellow heat alert has been issued from 9am on Tuesday to 9am on Friday for parts of England, including the East and West Midlands, the south-east, south-west, and east of England, as well as Yorkshire and the Humber. The alert comes as the UK prepares for further wildfires, with the government and emergency services on high alert.
Preparations and Warnings
Minister Falconer said that the UK is preparing for wildfires and knows that it needs to go further, with the Spanish government warning that the increasing ferocity of wildfires is a result of man-made climate change. The UK government is in touch with the Scottish government about what support it can provide, with military assistance already being used in Scotland.
The NFCC spokesperson said that fire and rescue services remain on alert and are continuing to prepare for renewed wildfire risk, with the public being asked to play their part in preventing wildfires. The UK is expected to face further hot weather, with the heatwave set to continue into the weekend.
