"Ten English fire services tackled a record number of grassland, woodland and crop fires during what was the UK's hottest spring and summer on record, figures show. In total nearly 27,000 wildfires were dealt with by fire services in England during the prolonged dry weather of 2025, according to analysis by PA Media. One fire chief said the summer was one of the most challenging that crews had ever faced and the frequency and intensity of the wildfires was putting a strain on resources."
"The figures, obtained through freedom of information requests, show that at least 12,454 grassland, woodland or crop fires were recorded by fire services in England in the three months from March to May 2025. This is more than four times the 2,621 incidents logged by these services in the same period in 2024 and is the highest spring total for more than a decade."
"At least 14,448 grassland, woodland and crop fires were recorded in England in June to August, one of the highest summer totals in recent years, though not as many as in 2022 (20,858) when a spell of very hot weather pushed temperatures in the UK above 40C for the first time, with 40.3C recorded at Coningsby, Lincolnshire. The highest UK temperature recorded in 2025 was 35.8C in Faversham, Kent. Overall, the Met Office said it was the UK's warmest spring and summer on record."
Nearly 27,000 grassland, woodland and crop wildfires occurred in England during the prolonged dry weather of 2025. Freedom of information requests show at least 12,454 such fires were recorded from March to May, more than four times the 2,621 incidents in the same period of 2024 and the highest spring total in over a decade. Ten fire services reported record spring numbers, including Tyne and Wear (1,240), Durham and Darlington (719), Derbyshire (334) and Northumberland (309). At least 14,448 such fires were recorded from June to August, below 2022’s 20,858. The Met Office recorded the UK's warmest spring and summer; spring was the driest in over 100 years.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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