Wildfires are currently raging in 19 different areas across England and Wales as the UK experiences high temperatures, leading to additional heat-health warnings being issued for much of the nation.
Seven regions in England have been put on alert from Tuesday to Friday by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week, with the Met Office predicting temperatures reaching up to 33C in the south-central regions.
Emergency services are actively managing 19 wildfire incidents, tackling a mix of large moorland and agricultural fires, as reported by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
NFCC highlighted that significant wildfire risks persist in many parts of England and Wales, with some areas facing an “extreme risk” level.
Major incidents have been declared due to wildfires in North Wales and in Glossop, Derbyshire within the Peak District.
According to Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon, the ongoing heatwave is expected to continue, with temperatures potentially reaching a high of 33 degrees Celsius in parts of southern-central England.
Dixon mentioned that temperatures in southern-central England are likely to stay in the low 30s throughout the week, with other areas experiencing temperatures in the mid to high 20s.
However, temperatures are anticipated to moderate by the latter part of the week, with peak temperatures expected to be in the mid-to-high 20s by Saturday.
Chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, Phil Garrigan, emphasized the current challenges faced by fire and rescue services in responding to multiple significant wildfires, urging caution when outdoors to prevent incidents that could endanger communities, firefighters, and the environment.
Garrigan stressed the importance of avoiding behaviors that could spark fires, such as using disposable barbecues in open spaces, discarding cigarettes improperly, and ensuring proper disposal of litter to prevent wildfires from causing extensive damage to landscapes, wildlife, agriculture, and local communities.