Latest news with #PaulMcCourt
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'Large wildfire' in Scotland - after multiple blazes across UK this week
Helicopters are being used to tackle Scotland's fourth wildfire this week after others broke out in England amid warmer-than-usual temperatures. The latest blaze was reported in Galloway at 11.50pm on Friday. Police Scotland said fire services were still using helicopters to bring the flames under control on Saturday, which have now spread 1.5 miles across Merrick Hil, Ben Yellary, Glen Trool, and Loch Dee. It is the fourth wildfire to sweep the country so far this week - with one stretching 500m at Gartur Moss in Port of Menteith, Stirling, on Wednesday. Crews were also sent to extinguish blazes in Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire, and Kilpatrick Hills, East Dunbartonshire, earlier in the week. They come amid uncharacteristically warm and dry conditions for the time of year, which triggered a "severe" wildfire rating for parts of the UK on Tuesday. Friday was officially the warmest day of the year so far - with temperatures in the south of England reaching 23C (73.4F) - the highest since 21 September last year, according to the Met Office. People have been warned not to have barbecues in parks as they risk fires spreading through open spaces. London Fire Brigade's assistant commissioner Paul McCourt warned earlier in the week: "The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning, covering London, and this will be in place for the rest of the week. "As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire." In Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park was forced to close after multiple wildfires broke out there on Wednesday. Separate incidents were then reported at Upton Heath, near Poole on Wednesday, and Canford Heath in the early hours of Thursday. The former saw flames spread across 37 acres - but fire crews said they were both brought under control. 286 wildfires so far this year The warm weather is set to continue next week, with above-average temperatures into next weekend, and the risk of wildfires still possible but reducing, according to the Met Office. There have already been 286 wildfires reported in 2025 - 100 more than those recorded over the same period in 2022, which saw record-breaking temperatures and unprecedented numbers of fires. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has urged the government to increase resilience as wildfires are increasing with climate change. Chairman Phil Garrigan said: "Responding to wildfires requires a lot of resource, and often over long periods of time, which puts pressure on other fire and rescue service activities. "Rising resilience threats mean there is an increased demand on fire and rescue services and that has to be met with long-term and sustained investment. This is really crucial to ensuring we can continue to keep our communities safe. "Wildfires are not a seasonal threat - they are becoming a persistent and growing risk to life, property, and the environment. We must adapt and invest now to ensure our services are equipped to meet this challenge."
Sky News
05-04-2025
- Climate
- Sky News
'Large wildfire' in Scotland - after multiple blazes across UK this week
Helicopters are being used to tackle Scotland's fourth wildfire this week after others broke out in England amid warmer-than-usual temperatures. The latest blaze was reported in Galloway at 11.50pm on Friday. Police Scotland said fire services were still using helicopters to bring the flames under control on Saturday, which have now spread 1.5 miles across Merrick Hil, Ben Yellary, Glen Trool, and Loch Dee. It is the fourth wildfire to sweep the country so far this week - with one stretching 500m at Gartur Moss in Port of Menteith, Stirling, on Wednesday. Crews were also sent to extinguish blazes in Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire, and Kilpatrick Hills, East Dunbartonshire, earlier in the week. They come amid uncharacteristically warm and dry conditions for the time of year, which triggered a "severe" wildfire rating for parts of the UK on Tuesday. Friday was officially the warmest day of the year so far - with temperatures in the south of England reaching 23C (73.4F) - the highest since 21 September last year, according to the Met Office. 1:06 People have been warned not to have barbecues in parks as they risk fires spreading through open spaces. London Fire Brigade's assistant commissioner Paul McCourt warned earlier in the week: "The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning, covering London, and this will be in place for the rest of the week. "As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire." In Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park was forced to close after multiple wildfires broke out there on Wednesday. 1:28 Separate incidents were then reported at Upton Heath, near Poole on Wednesday, and Canford Heath in the early hours of Thursday. The former saw flames spread across 37 acres - but fire crews said they were both brought under control. 286 wildfires so far this year The warm weather is set to continue next week, with above-average temperatures into next weekend, and the risk of wildfires still possible but reducing, according to the Met Office. There have already been 286 wildfires reported in 2025 - 100 more than those recorded over the same period in 2022, which saw record-breaking temperatures and unprecedented numbers of fires. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has urged the government to increase resilience as wildfires are increasing with climate change. Chairman Phil Garrigan said: "Responding to wildfires requires a lot of resource, and often over long periods of time, which puts pressure on other fire and rescue service activities. "Rising resilience threats mean there is an increased demand on fire and rescue services and that has to be met with long-term and sustained investment. This is really crucial to ensuring we can continue to keep our communities safe. "Wildfires are not a seasonal threat - they are becoming a persistent and growing risk to life, property, and the environment. We must adapt and invest now to ensure our services are equipped to meet this challenge."
Sky News
04-04-2025
- Climate
- Sky News
'Avoid BBQs in parks,' people warned - amid 'severe' wildfire rating
The UK could see its warmest day of the year so far on Friday - as a "severe" rating for wildfires remaining in place across the country. Temperatures could reach as high as 24C in parts of central England, as weather "nearer to what we'd expect in July" continues, the Met Office said. It means the UK is set to be hotter than Marbella and Ibiza in Spain, Mykonos in Greece, and even Los Angeles in California on Friday, according to Met Office forecasts. Sky News meteorologist Jo Robinson said the weather will continue to be "dry and sunny" into Saturday and Sunday. She said daytime temperatures are expected to remain above average in the south and west, with the cool wind easing next week as high pressure becomes centred over the UK and Ireland. The highest temperature recorded so far this year was 21.3C in Northolt, west London, and Chertsey, Surrey, on 20 March. The average temperature for this time of year is around 12C in England and 10C in Scotland. It comes as the Met Office has predicted a "severe" likelihood of wildfires breaking out across parts of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, due to current weather conditions. The forecaster said the combination of "ongoing dry, warm, but often breezy, weather" could lead to further outbreaks of fires after blazes broke out in Dorset and Scotland earlier this week. The "severe" wildfire rating was first issued by the Met Office on 1 April. The Met Office said it will be downgraded in some areas from Sunday, but remains at an amber level in the South East of England. Warnings not to use BBQs Ahead of the warm weekend, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has advised Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces, to avoid inadvertently starting a fire. LFB assistant commissioner Paul McCourt said: "We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine, but we urge people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent a grass fire from starting. "The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning, covering London, and this will be in place for the rest of the week. "As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire." A similar warning was issued by the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service, who posted on Facebook to warn: "Wildfires spread fast, leaving behind scorched landscapes, lost habitats, and can be a big strain on firefighter resources. "Don't let carelessness be the cause!" Several hectares of woodland in the Moors Valley Country Park on the Dorset-Hampshire border have already been destroyed due to wildfires that broke out on Monday and Wednesday. Two more major wildfires at nearby Canford Heath in Dorset were also tackled by the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service overnight into Thursday morning. While in Scotland, a large grass fire at Gartur Moss in Port of Menteith, Stirling, stretched for half a kilometre. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said there is a "very high to extreme" risk of wildfire remains across the country until Monday and urged the public not to light fires outdoors. What has caused the UK's wildfires? Wildfires are not that unusual during spring in the UK, but recent dry weather has raised the fire risk, Sky News weather presenter Kirsty McCabe says. She says that during March, Scotland recorded around 64% of its average March rainfall, with southern Scotland only recording 49%. According to provisional figures from the Met Office, the UK recorded just 43% of its average rainfall for March. "If we look at the UK as a whole, March was a very dry month, with below average rainfall for many," McCabe says. She adds that the impact of drier than average weather is that the moisture levels in soil and plants are reduced, which results in drier and more flammable vegetation. The Met Office has said an area of cloud and showery outbreaks of rain moving northwards across south-west England and parts of Wales on Friday night may bring some relief to some parts of the country struggling with dry conditions.
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Warning over disposable barbecues as UK temperatures set to soar to 22C
Wildfire alerts have been issued across much of the UK, as well as a warning to avoid barbecues with dry conditions expected through April. Fire brigades and the Met Office warned of an elevated wildfire risk. Most of England, including London, has been put on alert, which will extend into Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Wednesday. The Fire Severity Index, which offers a daily hazard assessment for the responder community, is currently at an amber level, meaning the conditions across the UK are severe and could lead to wildfires. This comes ahead of warmer temperatures this spring, which are expected to peak at 22C on Friday. Londoners and people living in Dorset were urged not to use disposable barbecues and to properly dispose of cigarettes, matches and litter, as fire crews have asked people to act responsibly to prevent the risk of wildfires. Kathryn Chalk, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'With strong winds and ongoing dry/warm weather this brings a continued likelihood for wildfire conditions through the period.' She added: 'However, showers moving into the far South West will bring some relief to these parts. Then dry weather continues Friday and Saturday extending further north across western Scotland.' England will mostly be affected by the alert, she said, adding that the Met Office couldn't be specific on location due to the nature of wildfires. London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Paul McCourt said: 'We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine but we urge people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent a grass fire from starting. 'Recent events in Los Angeles and South Korea have demonstrated how rapidly fires can spread outdoors even when temperatures are not at their highest. 'As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire. 'We're also working closely with partners, such as local authorities, to help manage the risks in outdoor spaces and ensure the public are following the safety advice.' Glasgow's Kilpatrick Hills already experienced wildfires earlier this week. Scottish Fire and Rescue warned that the wildfire risk would be 'very high to extreme' for the rest of the week. Firefighters also responded to a wildfire in the Swansea mountains as 20 hectares of gorse was set alight earlier in March. The Met Office does not have an official public warning service for wildfire risk, instead contributing to a daily hazard assessment as part of the Natural Hazards Partnership, which brings together expertise across government bodies. This is then circulated to the government and the emergency services, as well as local authorities. The wildfire alerts follow news from the forecaster that the UK experienced a record-breaking March. Provisional statistics show that England enjoyed its sunniest March since records began in 1910, while Wales enjoyed its second sunniest. UK-wide, it was the third sunniest March on record. While the country experienced more sunshine than usual, it also experienced less rain. March was a very dry month, as the UK recorded just 43 per cent of its average rainfall for the month. Only Scotland recorded more than half of its meteorological average rainfall, while Shetland was the only county that saw above average with 129 per cent.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Where are the UK wildfire warnings and what is the fire brigade safety advice?
Rare Met Office amber warnings for wildfires have been issued for much of the UK, including London, Kent, Wiltshire, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland. Several fire departments have issued wildfire safety advice as warm weather and strong winds are expected in various parts of the country for the remainder of this week, and beyond. The warning was issued as warm and dry conditions are expected to continue, with temperatures expected to peak at 22C on Friday, April 4. The warning is in place for most of England and will extend into Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Wednesday. Brits have been asked to refrain from using disposable barbecues and to be careful when disposing of cigarettes and litter, as wildfires can still occur outside of summer months. Kathryn Chalk, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'We can't be specific on locations due to the nature of wildfires though, and best to stick with the weather conditions with the dry air, breezy and warm conditions, hence the warning, with slightly cooler conditions with the onshore breeze along eastern coasts. 'With strong winds and ongoing dry/warm weather this brings a continued likelihood for wildfire conditions through the period'. Despite London not experiencing peak summer temperatures, the London Fire Brigade said that wildfires can still occur, because of this year's drier start to spring. London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Paul McCourt said: 'We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine but we urge people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent a grass fire from starting. 'Recent events in Los Angeles and South Korea have demonstrated how rapidly fires can spread outdoors, even when temperatures are not at their highest." He added: 'As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire.' The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said there is a 'very high' to 'extreme' risk of wildfires from Wednesday 2 April until Monday 7 April, north of the border. The SFRS are urging the public to be aware of wildfire risk as figures show almost 80 percent of large outdoor fires since 2010 were recorded between March and May. Group Commander Garry Douglas is one of SFRS Tactical Advisors. He said: 'During any period of heightened risk, fires can ignite easily, spread very quickly, and burn with high intensity. 'At this time of year in early Spring, we typically have a large volume of dead, bone-dry vegetation across large areas of countryside. This essentially acts as a fuel for fire. 'There are currently vast areas that are tinder dry and vulnerable, which provides all the ingredients for fire to take hold and spread. 'Human behaviour is the cause of most wildfires in Scotland, so it is imperative we all act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors especially over the coming days of predicted sunshine." During the record-breaking sweltering summer of 2022, the UK endured heat above 40C in some parts of the country for the first time, sparking fires across the country. The arid weather saw around 24,316 wildfires in England between June and August 2022, a four-fold increase in the same period from 2021. The south east saw the hottest temperatures with the London Fire Brigade having their busiest day since the Second World War. In the east of the capital 17 houses were destroyed in a large grassfire in Wennington, which also destroyed 40 hectares of fields, five garages, 12 stables, and a car repair workshop. In nearby Dagenham, more than 130 people had to be evacuated with two people having to be taken to hospital in a blaze that needed 100 firefighters to put out close to grassland. New research published earlier this month indicated the 2022 heatwave was made at least six times more likely due to human-caused climate change. The study, by the Met Office, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and the University of Exeter, stated that the UK's rising temperatures and drier conditions will increase the risk of extreme weather. Lead author Dr Chantelle Burton from the Met Office said: 'The 2022 heatwave wasn't just record-breaking — it drastically increased the risk of fires, highlighting the growing danger climate change poses to the UK.' The UK experiences thousands of wildfires every year, with 44,000 recorded in 2022. The smoke and air pollution they cause can be especially dangerous for children and the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions. Around two thirds of wildfires are accidental with the most common causes recorded as discarded cigarettes or unattended campfires, said the SFRS. They urged people this week to refrain from using disposable barbecues and to properly dispose of cigarettes, matches and litter, in order to prevent fire hazards. During the warm summer months the risk of wildfires increase and the UK government warned that the best way to prevent these fires from breaking out is to be responsible during hot and dry periods. Actions to take to prevent wildfires occurring Do not light fires in countryside areas and only have barbecues where signs say you can safely. Do not light fires in high winds, in low humidity or in high temperatures, or when they are forecast. Take extra care disposing of cigarettes in countryside areas. Ensure they are fully extinguished and disposed of safely. Do not throw cigarettes out of car windows. Do not leave hot barbecues unattended and always put your barbecue out. Do not litter – always take your rubbish home with you, as glass in direct sunlight can cause fires. Actions to take if you see a wildfire Have an escape plan ready for your safety. Do not attempt to tackle the fire yourself. Make sure your family members, or anyone with you, know where to assemble in the event of a wildfire. Ensure pets and domestic animals are safe. Ensure your home name or number is clearly visible from the road or main access point so firefighters can easily locate your address. Call and report fires by calling 999, and do not assume someone else already has. Always follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities.
