Record numbers of wildfires are putting services under huge strain, warn Fire Chiefs

• Fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 856 wildfire incidents in the UK so far this year (as of 12 August 2025).
• By the end of July, wildfire numbers were 663% higher than the same period last year (1 January – 31 July) and 33% higher than the same period in 2022, which was then a record year for wildfires.*
• Warnings from fire chiefs about the pressure on services follow a series of significant wildfires, including those in Dorset and Wiltshire this week, which saw a major incident declared, and over 100 firefighters tackling one blaze, and at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.
• Demand on fire and rescue services is going up whilst firefighter numbers are falling. Fire and rescue services in England responded to 600,185 incidents in total last year – an increase of 100,000 (20%) compared to a decade ago (2014).
• Firefighter numbers in England are down by 25% since 2008 – the equivalent of 11,000 wholetime firefighters.

Firefighters are under increasing pressure as they battle an unprecedented surge in wildfires, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is warning. In England and Wales alone, crews have already tackled 856 wildfires this year and with the UK currently experiencing another heatwave, the threat is rising. Fire and rescue services remain on high readiness to respond, but fire chiefs are warning that the scale of these blazes – which can also go on for days and sometimes weeks – is placing a huge strain on other vital emergency response work.

This year has seen the UK experience a dry spring and a series of heatwaves throughout the summer so far. On Tuesday, the Met Office warned that many parts of the UK, particularly in the south, would experience a hot and humid week, with some areas experiencing their fourth heatwave of the summer. The warm weather is expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, where temperatures could reach 34°C before beginning to slowly decline.

New figures from National Resilience reveal a sharp rise in wildfire incidents across England and Wales. As of Tuesday 12 August, fire and rescue services have already tackled 856 wildfires this year – putting 2025 on course to exceed the record-breaking totals seen in 2022. By the end of July that year, there had been 596 wildfires; by the same point this year, the figure had soared to 793 – a 33% increase. The contrast with last year is even starker: between 1 January and 31 July 2024, there were 104 wildfires. This year’s total over the same period is 663% higher.

The warning from fire chiefs comes after a number of significant wildfires in recent days. On Saturday (9 August) Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident as firefighters battled two large heath fires. Over 100 firefighters tackled a blaze at Holt Heath near Wimborne, whilst at Newton Heath, near Swanage, firefighters were also continuing to tackle a heath fire the size of 35 football pitches which had begun the previous Sunday (3 August).

Dorset and Wiltshire FRS said the scale of the two fires had a significant impact on the overall availability of resources resulting in a major incident being declared and in firefighters being deployed from neighbouring Hampshire & Isle of Wight and Devon and Somerset fire and rescue services. On Tuesday it was reported that firefighters from as far as Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester were also providing support.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responded to a gorse blaze on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh which saw firefighters working through the night to bring the fire under control.

Wildfires are placing an increased operational demand on fire and rescue services, without any proportional increase in resource.

National Fire Chief Council (NFCC) Chair, Phil Garrigan, said:

“Firefighters are already being pushed to their limits, with the major incident declared in Dorset and Wiltshire this week and the blaze at Arthur’s Seat showing just how demanding and dangerous these events can be. Each wildfire can take days – sometimes weeks – to bring under control, tying up crews and specialist equipment and placing huge strain on other vital fire and rescue work. There’s a real human toll on our firefighters too who are undertaking the most arduous work in the toughest conditions.

“We are already seeing more wildfires at this point in the year than in 2022 — which itself was a record year — and that is deeply concerning. This is against a backdrop of sustained cuts in funding and reducing firefighter numbers – with 11,000 fewer firefighters in England now than there were 10 years ago, alongside a 20% increase in demand over the same period. Climate change is fuelling more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and wildfires are no longer a seasonal threat; they are a persistent and growing risk to life, property, and the environment.

“Meeting this challenge will require long-term, sustained investment so that fire and rescue services have the people, resources, and equipment they need to protect our communities, no matter how many fronts they are fighting on.”

Wildfires Public Safety Advice:

• Avoid using disposable barbecues in open countryside, parks, and moorland areas.
• Do not discard cigarettes, matches, or glass bottles, as they can ignite dry vegetation.
• Follow local authority guidance on fire risks and restrictions.
• If you notice any suspicious behaviour or see someone intentionally starting a fire, contact the Police immediately or report the information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If there is a fire, call 999 immediately.
• Report any signs of fire immediately by calling 999 and asking for the Fire and Rescue Service.

NFCC

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