Wildfires in Britain reach record levels as homes burn amid intense heat

Wildfires in England and Wales have reached record levels, with fire chiefs warning that emergency services are struggling to keep pace as extreme heat fuels fires across the country.

The number of wildfires has already surpassed last year’s record of 1,017, according to Phil Garrigan, chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

He warned that the current wildfire season could extend into November, potentially making 2026 not only a record year but marking a substantial increase on previous totals.

"We've well surpassed the figures from the previous high of 2025," Garrigan told Reuters.

"We're only in the middle of August, and the wildfire season seems to extend way into November at this moment in time. So, we're anticipating this being not just a record-breaking year, but a considerable increase on the number of wildfires previously experienced."

The warning came a day after fires swept through tinder-dry fields and destroyed homes in several parts of England, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged the public to remain vigilant during a visit to Stourbridge, one of the areas affected by the fires.

"Britain is a tinderbox right now," he warned. "This is not over by any means. We've got 37 fires smouldering around the country."

Stourbridge resident Paul Nash described the moment his family fled their home after flames spread along a nearby railway line.

"I ⁠heard a scream, and all the trees along the railway track were exploding. They weren't just setting fire, they were exploding. So we just grabbed everything and left," Nash told Reuters.

Britain is experiencing its fifth heatwave of the year and is on course for its hottest summer on record. Government figures show around 45 million people are living in drought-hit areas, while 27 million face restrictions on water use.

Temperatures reached 38.1°C (100°F) in London on Thursday, making it the UK’s fifth-hottest day on record, according to the Met Office. Pershore in central England also recorded 38°C as fires spread through homes and fields.

The extreme conditions also disrupted transport, with a major motorway temporarily closed and train services affected. Officials have not yet established whether a train derailment in southern England was linked to the heat.

"We've declared 11 major incidents over the course of the last 24 hours," Garrigan said.

"The demands and the requests for support have ⁠probably outstripped the capability of the UK fire and rescue service ... so we've struggled to give fire and rescue services exactly what they want."

Burnham made clear that the military was supporting firefighters in some areas and that he would convene a summit with emergency services to ensure they had the resources required to respond to the growing wildfire threat.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov