Heatwave sparks fire warnings across south-west England
Firefighters left the scene at 22:00 BST after using water from a local reservoir to help put the fire out, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said.One crew returned on Wednesday morning to check the site for any remaining hotspots.There have been more than 500 wildfires across England and Wales so far this year, the National Fire Chiefs Council said.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
2025 on track to beat UK record for wildfires, warn firefighters
UK firefighters have warned that 2025 is on track to beat the national record for wildfires, with frontline staff 'pushed to their limits'. On Wednesday, a major incident was declared in the North York Moors national park, with 20 fire engines deployed to tackle at least 5 sq km of moorland which has been burning since Monday. It follows a similar major incident over the weekend tackled by Dorset and Wiltshire fire service and a blaze at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. In England and Wales alone, crews have already tackled 856 wildfires this year, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said – a third higher than the record-breaking totals seen in 2022 and six times the number recorded last year – warning that hot and dry weather means the figures will likely only increase. The NFCC warned members of the public not to use barbecues in open countryside, parks, and moorland areas. In addition, the organisation advised people not to discard cigarettes, matches or glass bottles, as they can ignite dry vegetation. The NFCC chair, Phil Garrigan, said firefighters were 'already being pushed to their limits' with recent major incidents 'showing just how demanding and dangerous these events can be'. 'Each wildfire can take days – sometimes weeks – to bring under control, tying up crews and specialist equipment and placing huge strain on other vital fire and rescue work. There's a real human toll on our firefighters too who are undertaking the most arduous work in the toughest conditions. 'We are already seeing more wildfires at this point in the year than in 2022 – which itself was a record year – and that is deeply concerning. This is against a backdrop of sustained cuts in funding and reducing firefighter numbers – with 11,000 fewer firefighters in England now than there were 10 years ago, alongside a 20% increase in demand over the same period. Climate change is fuelling more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and wildfires are no longer a seasonal threat; they are a persistent and growing risk to life, property, and the environment. He called for ' long-term, sustained investment so that fire and rescue services have the people, resources, and equipment they need to protect our communities, no matter how many fronts they are fighting on'. It comes as researchers say the sea surrounding the Yorkshire coast is likely to break temperature records in 2025. Temperatures are 2C higher than in the 1980s, putting at risk some species that are a key part of the food chain. Prof Rodney Forster, of the University of Hull, told the BBC the North Sea 'appears to be a bit of a hot spot, warming faster than anywhere else and we don't know yet why that is'.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Second volunteer dies battling wildfire in Spain's Leon province
MADRID, Aug 14 (Reuters) - A second volunteer firefighter who suffered severe burns while battling a wildfire in Spain's northern Leon province has died from his injuries, a government official said on Thursday, as several blazes continued across the country. "Today we mourn the death of another member of the team fighting fires in Leon," Nicanor Sen, the national government's representative in Castile and Leon - Spain's largest region - wrote in an X post. Local media identified the victim as 37-year-old Jaime Aparicio, who suffered burns to 85% of his body after being trapped alongside another volunteer between two fronts near the town of Nogarejas, while they attempted to create firebreaks with brush cutters. His colleague Abel Ramos, 35, died on Tuesday, the sixth fatality linked to wildfires in Spain this year. On Monday, a separate fire killed a man on the outskirts of Madrid. Nearly two dozen blazes continued to rage in Spain on Thursday, fuelled by wind and extreme heat. Around 9,500 people were evacuated from their towns and hundreds ordered to stay at home. At least 14 roads were blocked, according to traffic authority DGT, and trains between Madrid and northwestern Galicia remained suspended, railway operator Adif said. Spain has asked for help from European partners to tackle the fires, requesting two Canadair water-bombing planes. Fire has affected nearly 440,000 hectares (1,700 square miles) in the euro zone so far in 2025, twice the average for the period since 2006, according to the EU Science Hub's Joint Research Centre. Scientists say the climate change exacerbates the risk of wildfires in the Mediterranean region due to hotter and drier conditions. In Spain, record-breaking rainfall this spring after a prolonged drought accelerated vegetation growth, including undergrowth that becomes highly combustible in a dry summer.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Met Office reveals when the heatwave will end
An amber heat health alert remained in place for several regions across England until Wednesday evening, with temperatures potentially reaching 34C. The Met Office issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for most of Scotland and Northern Ireland until 10pm on Thursday, with potential for heavy showers elsewhere later in the week. The current heatwave, the fourth of the summer, is expected to persist throughout the week with cooler but still warm conditions on Thursday, and a return to very hot weather in the south and South East by Friday. The UK Health Security Agency has advised the public to take precautions due to the health risks associated with high temperatures, particularly for vulnerable individuals. England is facing "nationally significant" water shortfalls, with five areas officially in drought, impacting the environment and agriculture.
