UK wildfires hit record levels in July as drought and heatwave spark warnings

Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJuly was the busiest month on record for wildfires, with firefighters attending 458 blazes during the month and 185 in the first 10 days of August. The National Fire Chiefs Council said its services had responded to 966 wildfires so far this year, approaching the record set in 2025. Phil Garrigan, chairman of the council, said: “The combination of drought conditions and another heatwave means the risk of fires remains high, and these incidents can place huge demands on firefighters and specialist resources.”He added: “Many wildfires are preventable so we’re asking people to be vigilant and take extra care outdoors while these conditions continue.”Bournemouth Water, which supplies Ringwood and the currently ablaze New Forest, has urged local residents to limit their water use.In fullUK weather latest: July breaks wildfire record as Met Office issues rare ‘extreme heat’ warningMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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