UK wildfires devastated more areas in 2025 than at any time since records began, figures show

"The Global Wildfire Information System estimates that by November, wildfires had burned 47,026 hectares (116,204 acres) in 2025 in the UK the largest area in any year since monitoring began in 2012, and more than double the area burned in the record-breaking summer of 2022. Now the Fire Brigades Union, backed by climate groups and tax justice organisations, has written to the government asking for long-term investment in the service to help it meet the growing threat from wildfires and floods as the climate crisis worsens."

"There is stark evidence that the UK is dangerously underprepared for the growing threat of wildfires, flooding, and the wider impacts of the climate crisis,' the letter states. That is why we are writing to you, as organisations working across public safety, climate action, and economic and social justice ahead of the budget to ask you to make substantial, long-term investment in the UK's fire and rescue service."

"The letter says the fire and rescue service is poorly equipped to deal with incidents like these, having lost nearly 12,000 firefighters since 2010 one in five posts. It adds that central government funding has been cut by 30% in cash-terms alone and many services have faced equipment shortages, under-staffed control rooms and insufficient protective gear. This under-investment is impacting response to climate change"

By November 2025, wildfires burned 47,026 hectares in the UK, the largest area monitored since 2012 and more than double the 2022 total. The Fire Brigades Union, supported by climate and tax justice groups, has urged the government for substantial long-term investment in the fire and rescue service to address increasing wildfire and flood threats. The service has lost nearly 12,000 firefighters since 2010 and faced a 30% cash-terms cut in central government funding. Many services report equipment shortages, understaffed control rooms and insufficient protective gear, undermining climate-related response capacity.

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