Latest news with #GlobalWildfireInformationSystem
The National
23-05-2025
- Climate
- The National
Warning issued over 'severe' environmental impact of Scottish wildfires
Over the last several weeks, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has battled dozens of wildfires across the country, with evacuations taking place in some areas. Just yesterday, firefighters were at the scene of a forest wildfire for a fourth day. The blaze in Culbin Forest, near Forres in Moray, has affected an area the size of some 900 football pitches. READ MORE: Tories told to 'come clean' after sharing call to abolish Welsh parliament 'Images of the recent wildfires across Scotland are harrowing,' Mark Ruskell told The National. The Scottish Greens MSP added: 'Forests ablaze, scorched earth stripped of its nature, and homes and businesses put at risk. The impact to our environment, its fragile ecosystems, and the plant and wildlife that rely on it, is severe.' Ruskell also highlighted the particular danger in Scotland given our extensive amount of peatland. Scottish peatlands store a gigantic 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon, equivalent to 140 years of Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions. (Image: Peter Jolly) 'In 2019, a wildfire on Europe's largest peatland in Caithness and Sutherland doubled Scotland's climate emissions for the days it burned, highlighting the special risks posed in Scotland,' Ruskell said. 'We must redouble our efforts to restore and rewet peatlands, minimising the risk of flooding and wildfires while locking up emissions. 'Record heat, sun and lack of rainfall have all contributed as climate breakdown moves from warnings to reality. Without fundamental change, the threat, and the cost of dealing with it, will only become more severe.' Academics have warned that wildfires are simply 'the new normal' in Scotland and will become a more frequent occurrence as a result of climate change. Already last month, the area of the UK burnt by wildfires was already higher than the total for any year since 2012, according to satellite data. More than 29,200 hectares (292 sq km or 113 sq miles) was burnt as of April 27, according to figures from the Global Wildfire Information System.
The Herald Scotland
22-05-2025
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
Is Scotland's future on fire - and how can we stop it?
Is there any realistic chance of stopping them or is this what Scotland's future holds? This week Culbin forest near Forres has been alight; a month ago it was Glen Rosa on Arran; a week prior to that it was Galloway. By the end of April, more of the UK had been burnt by wildfires than the total for any year in more than a decade, according to the Global Wildfire Information System. The impacts on wildlife and cost to landowners can be pretty devastating. 'We've lost 10 years of conservation work and effort,' said one Arran ranger in the wake of the Glen Rosa fire. 'We just have to start again.' Read More: True, it's been an unusually dry spring, but the worrying long-term Scottish trend is for more intense, harder-to-handle fires that often begin on moorland and spread into forests. California suffered a deep collective trauma in January when a series of huge blazes broke out due to a combination of conditions – a period of high rainfall promoting vegetation growth, followed by drought, followed by high winds. At least 30 people died and more than 18,000 homes were destroyed. Scotland may not be a high hazard location for destructive wildfires like the western US, but the so-called 'hydroclimate whiplash' effect – a wet period followed by an intense dry period – is being more frequently observed in locations around the world including Scotland, creating the conditions for more frequent and troublesome wildfires. So do we just have to endure them? Yes and no, is the somewhat sad reality. Wildfires will continue and worsen, say the researchers, but we can manage them better. 'As long as climate change keeps happening, this effect keeps increasing,' says Theo Keeping of Reading University, an expert in wildfire risk modelling. The old postcard on the difference between Scotland's winter and summer weather, showing a rain-lashed figure cowering under an umbrella in both cases, once seemed to represent Scotland's best protection against wildfires: near-constant rain. That has changed. With a warming atmosphere able to absorb ever more moisture from the land, we still get plenty of rain, but in between times we are seeing longer settled spells when the ground is sucked dry of moisture. Scotland has started experiencing wildfires in areas which were not traditionally susceptible to them, and instead of being contained in spring, devouring dead vegetation leftover from the previous year, wildfires are occurring into summer and even late summer. 'They're certainly becoming more difficult to suppress and tend to have higher fuel loads – the amount of vegetation available for burning – which gives them greater intensity,' says Group Commander Niall MacLennan of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), based in Inverness. Heather that's above knee height, for instance, contains a lot of energy. Land management is part of the wildfire risk, says the SFRS. Changes to the way farms and estates use land, particularly where vegetation increases as a result, can have an impact. So can't fires be prevented in the first place? Some but not all. That would require a policy that is literally foolproof and no one has come up with one yet. Social media right now is full of pleas from rangers begging people not to flick away fag ends, light campfires and BBQs or leave glass bottles around that could magnify the sun (thought to be the cause of Glen Rosa's fire). Yet it's also full of exasperated posts from people who have found smouldering campfires set on tinder-dry moorland or under trees among dessicated pine needles. Clearly either the message isn't getting through, or some people are deliberately ignoring it. Probably both. Education is still crucial and there's more focus on it in Scotland than ever before. In other countries, like Portugal, it's helped reduce the number of fires. But as Keeping says 'it's almost impossible' to exclude all ignitions. That's why much effort has focused on finding ways of containing fires and putting them out pronto. Regenerating landscapes to better retain water; creating fire breaks (where vegetation is burnt or cut away); giving greater consideration to what we grow and where; creating lochans as water sources for firefighters: strategies such as this will just become more and more important. The Scottish Parliament has just passed legislation requiring anyone using 'prescribed burning', for firebreaks or muirburn, to hold a license and have training. Evacuation plans also have to be up to date in case of wildfires getting out of control. At the edge of towns and villages, householders might have to start giving more attention to reducing fire risk. MacLennan says he is concerned when he sees large-scale vegetation like gorse close to houses in rural areas because of the real risk the buildings could catch fire. If we can't stop fires igniting, we need to be able to extinguish them quickly. SFRS is focusing on a 'smarter' strategy for tackling wildfires, with specially trained firefighters in certain fire stations equipped with specific PPE and equipment, to manage and suppress fires in an agile way. A helicopter, like that used over Culbin forest, might deposit around 800litres of water over the fires – about eight baths-worth – which is highly effective. Civilian helicopters aren't always available for these operations though. Even ground vehicles suitable for the local terrain can be hard to come by and sometimes firefighters still have to walk to fire sites dressed in PPE and carrying water. That's one way land managers and locals can help out, offering lifts and vehicles. And perhaps that's the point: that we all have a role to play in this – individuals, government, fire service and communities. More intense wildfires, a consequences of unchecked climate change, are part of our collective future. It looks like it will take a collective effort to fight them. Rebecca McQuillan is a journalist specialising in politics and Scottish affairs. She can be found on Bluesky at @ and on X at @BecMcQ
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Firemen fight for two hours to put out Welsh wildfire
Dramatic photographs showed firemen dwarfed by flames as they fought a large blaze in north Wales. Eight acres of land in Rhosgadfan, Gwynedd, caught fire as two crews battled to try and put it out. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (NWFRS) said the blaze lasted for two hours before they managed to successfully contain and extinguish it. The cause of the fire is unknown. The area of the UK affected by wildfires in 2025 has already surpassed that of any year on record. More than 29,200 hectares have been burnt, according to figures from the Global Wildfire Information System, which has recorded wildfires since 2012. The previous high recorded was in 2019, when 28,100 hectares were singed. Already 2025 has been a record year for wildfires in the UK Following the hot weather last week, fire chiefs across the country warned of the increased risk of wildfires. Last month, 120,000 square metres of a nature reserve in Calshot, Hampshire, were scorched in a blaze. Two larger fires on Dorset heathland, which burnt out more than 126 acres, were ruled to be the result of 'human intervention'. A blaze at Upton, near Poole, destroyed a nationally important heathland the size of 70 football pitches. The animal death toll from the blaze included 139 slow worms, 11 common lizards, three sand lizards, 20 grass snakes, 10 adders, five smooth snakes, a mole, a newt and 10 bird nest eggs. Twenty five snakes were killed in the recent wildfire in Dorset The National Fire Chiefs Council has urged the Government to increase resilience as the number of wildfires rises, which they attributed to climate change. An NWFRS spokesman said: 'We were called at 6.05pm on Monday 5th May to a fire in the open at Rhosgadfan, Gwynedd. 'Eight acres were involved, and two crews and two wildfire units attended to tackle the fire. The stop was received at 8.19pm. 'The cause of the fire is unknown.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
New York Times
30-04-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
Temperatures in Britain Could Set Records This Week
Britons have basked in a burst of summerlike weather this week as temperatures have surged beyond the seasonal average — and they may soon break records. Forecasters say Thursday may be Britain's warmest May 1, with highs expected to reach 84.2 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat has been driven by two key factors: a large area of high pressure that has settled over Britain, causing descending air that warms as it sinks, and continuous sunshine, fueling daytime heating. Aidan McGivern, a meteorologist at the Met Office, the nation's weather service, explained that this has been a familiar pattern over the last few months. 'The sun this time of the year is as strong as it is in August,' he said. 'We're not importing this air from anywhere else — this is homegrown warmth.' London recorded Britain's highest temperature of the year on Monday, only for that to be beaten on Tuesday. The mercury is expected to rise further on Wednesday and Thursday. Overnight temperatures have been above average too, with parts of Scotland experiencing their warmest April night on record. The peak of the heat is expected on Thursday, just as voters in England head to the polls for local elections. Temperatures in southern England could reach 84.2 Fahrenheit (29 Celsius), which would be a record for May 1. The current record was set in 1990 in Lossiemouth, Scotland, which hit 81.3 Fahrenheit (27.4 Celsius). If temperatures rise a bit higher, it could also become the earliest date in the year that Britain has hit 86 Fahrenheit (30 Celsius), based on Met Office data going back to 1860. 'The most likely temperature we're expecting is 29 Celsius,' Mr. McGivern said. 'But there's a possibility — a smaller chance of 10 to 20 percent — of 30 Celsius.' Typical highs for Britain in late April are around 54 Fahrenheit in northern areas and 61 in the south. But despite the stretch of warm days, this may not officially count as a heat wave. To qualify as a heat wave in Britain, temperatures must meet or exceed a specific threshold for at least three consecutive days. This threshold varies by region, from 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius) in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern and western England, to 82.4 Fahrenheit (28 Celsius) in southeast England. While many will enjoy the summerlike weather, it's also bringing risks. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Wildfire Forum have issued warnings of a very high to extreme wildfire risk across parts of Scotland. 'There are currently vast areas that are tinder-dry and vulnerable, which provides all the ingredients for fire to take hold and spread,' said Michael Humphreys, an area commander with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Although spring wildfires are not unusual in Britain, 2025 has already been a record-breaking year for them. More than 29,200 hectares, or 72,000 acres, have burned so far this year, according to the Global Wildfire Information System, surpassing the previous record of 28,100 hectares in all of 2019. Looking ahead, temperatures are expected to ease slightly starting on Friday, with highs likely dipping to around 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius), though the warm conditions could continue in the southeast of England. There's also a growing chance of thunderstorms, particularly in the south and southwest, late Thursday and into the night. Over the weekend cooler conditions are likely to filter in from the north, bringing temperatures closer to normal.
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
UK breaks worrying wildfire record: 113 sq miles of land has already been burnt this year - due to unusually dry spring conditions
The amount of UK land burnt by wildfires has already smashed the all-time record, just four months into the year. Since the start of 2025, more than 113 square miles (292 square km or 29,200 hectares) of land has been consumed by fires raging across the country. That is already greater than the previous record of 108 square miles (281 square km) burnt throughout the entirety of 2019, according to data collected by Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS) since 2012. And experts warn that the worst could still be yet to come. Although wildfires are common during early spring, the number of fires in some parts of the country has been up over 1,200 per cent. According to experts, the UK's record-breaking blazes have been driven by an exceptionally hot and dry March and April, likely linked with climate change. Oliver Claydon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, told MailOnline: 'During dry Springs, there is an elevated chance of wildfire outbreaks in grassland and heather heaths. 'This is often due to the presence of dead undergrowth from the previous year, together with a lack of new plant growth that might otherwise impede the ignition and spread of fires.' This year, several parts of the UK have been struck by unusually large wildfires. The most devastating period, according to GWIS data, was the seven-day stretch from April 2 to April 8 in which over 69 square miles (180 square km) of land was burnt. The largest blazes have occurred in the Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland, and parts of Wales. A fire in the Galloway Forest Park, located in south-west Scotland, destroyed 25 square miles (65 square km) according to BBC analysis. Likewise, a fire just 16 miles (25km) from Aberystwyth destroyed roughly 20 square miles (50 square km). Meanwhile, Abergwesyn Common in Powys, Wales was struck by a fire which burnt a further six square miles (16 km square). Although most fires are started by humans, either deliberately or accidentally, natural conditions make it easier for fires to ignite and spread. The Met Office says that this year's fires are the product of a wet autumn followed by a warm and dry spring. The Met Office says that last March was the sunniest since records began in 1910 (illustrated left) while the UK only received 43 per cent of the average rainfall for the month (illustrated right) Mr Claydon says: 'We had an exceptionally dry and sunny March, this followed quite a wet autumn and winter which can have the effect of increasing the vegetation that acts as fuel for any fire that does start.' According to the Met Office data, this March was the sunniest since records began in 1910, with some areas of Wales and England getting 150 per cent of the average sunshine. The month was also exceptionally dry, with the UK receiving just 43 per cent of its average rainfall for March. These conditions led to the fire risk for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and parts of Scotland being escalated to 'severe' by the start of April. Researchers warn that the conditions for dangerous fires are becoming more common as human-caused climate change continues to disrupt the climate. Mr Claydon says: 'Current climate change projections suggest that we are likely to see an increase in the conditions needed for wildfire across the UK as temperatures increase, and spells of low rainfall become more common.' Research conducted by the Met Office found that the damaging fires during the UK's record-breaking 2022 heatwave were made at least six times more likely due to human-caused climate change Although the recent bout of wet weather has largely brought this month's blazes to an end, the UK's wildfire woes are far from over. The peak of wildfire season typically comes later in the year when the warm weather has dried out the vegetation again. 'We are of course still in spring, but further dry, warm and breezy spells could again increase the wildfire risk through summer,' says Mr Clayton. He adds that it is 'too far ahead to make any predictions for the summer ahead at this stage'. Yet the UK's record-breaking spring has led some experts to worry that the worst may be yet to come. Likewise, Guillermo Rein, professor of fire science at Imperial College London, told the BBC: 'My number one worry is what is going to happen in the summer. 'There are fewer wildfires but they are bigger and they can actually be seriously catastrophic. 'You can have 100 [small] wildfires across the whole country and all of them can be handled in one day, or you could have one summer wildfire that actually cannot be stopped in a week and actually goes on to burn houses.' The increased wildfire risk means there will be more pressure on the UK's already stretched firefighting services. A spokesperson for the National Fire Chiefs Council told MailOnline: 'So far this year, we have experienced more than double the number of wildfires we saw for the same period in 2022 – which went on to be a record year for wildfires. 'It is early days yet, but if we continue to have warm weather and rising wildfire numbers, then we could surpass what we saw in 2022. 'One inconsiderate action or small mistake can lead to a significant wildfire. 'So we are asking that people take that extra care to prevent wildfires, including by avoiding the use of disposable barbecues in open countryside, parks and moorland areas, and by not discarding cigarettes, matches or glass bottles that could ignite dry vegetation.' HOW ARE WILDFIRES STARTED? The 'Thomas Fire' destroyed 281,893 acres in California in December 2017. Additionally, British Columbia's Nazko Complex Fire last year consumed more than a million acres, making it the largest ever recorded in the province. But the amount of land destroyed by wildfires each year will only go up in western and northern North America in the years to come, according to a new report published in the journal Plos One. Up to 90 percent of US wildfires are caused by people, according to the Insurance Information Institute. These fires can be initiated by unattended campfires, piles of burning debris, haphazardly discarded cigarettes or arson.
