Wildfires have swept across parts of Wales and England, prompting major incidents and evacuations as firefighters battle blazes fueled by hot weather and strong winds. Natural England has warned of an "exceptional fire risk" in pockets of southern Britain and a "very high" risk for much of England and Wales.
North Wales: Conwy Mountain Wildfire Forces Evacuations
North Wales Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident on Sunday after a wildfire broke out on Conwy Mountain in the early hours. The fire, which affected "hundreds of acres" of land, had a front measuring almost a mile across at one point. Residents described hearing the crackling fire advancing down the mountain towards homes as ash fell from a sky darkened by thick smoke.
Ben Campbell, a resident of Capelulo, fled with his wife Michelle and their three sons as the fire approached. He told the BBC: "The sound was worse than anything. It was so loud, the crackling. You could hear it coming down the mountain." Another resident said she felt helpless and scared during evacuation. The fire service asked people to avoid the area and advised local residents to keep windows and doors closed if affected by smoke.
Derbyshire: Large Scale Wildfire on Tintwistle Moor
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) declared a major incident due to a "large scale wildfire" on Tintwistle Moor, caused by "tinder dry" ground. Helicopters were deployed to drop water on the flames. Ellie Gillatt, a DFRS area manager, said: "Firefighters continue to face challenging conditions as they work to tackle the wildfire and protect the surrounding infrastructure and environment. This remains a significant and complex incident. DFRS has deployed multiple fire appliances and specialist wildfire resources." Extra firefighters from neighbouring services, mountain rescue teams, and police were called in to assist.
Other Fires Across England
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service tackled a moorland fire near Dovestone Reservoir. A spokesperson said: "Due to strong winds, smoke from the fire travelled significant distances, with people reporting haze and the smell of smoke as far as Manchester city centre." In Walthamstow, east London, 125 firefighters battled a blaze affecting a house, gardens, sheds, and a railway embankment. Some residents were evacuated and two rest centres were set up; the cause is under investigation. About 50 firefighters from London Fire Brigade also fought a wildfire in Orpington, southeast London, where several acres of grass were alight across two fields.
Climate Context
Friederike Otto, a professor of climate science at Imperial College London, linked the extreme heat to climate change, stating: "The heat we have seen this summer is only possible because of the 1.4C of climate change we have to date, due to the burning of fossil fuels." She cautioned against using the term "new normal," adding: "The climate we have today is not stable and continues to warm as long as we continue to burn fossil fuels. As a result, what is 'normal' keeps shifting and we're likely to see much hotter heatwaves like this one in the years to come."
Wildfires have also been reported in County Durham, East Sussex, West Sussex, Devon, Somerset, and other areas over the past few days.
