The UK government has issued a severe alert, stating: There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally. Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activities that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks. Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk.

UK wildfires haven’t, historically, been something most of us worry about. However, rising temperatures are changing this. UK Wildfires are increasingly mirroring wildfires in Europe as we experience record-breaking temperatures and repeated heatwaves. At the time of writing, 14 August, much of the UK is experiencing its fifth official heatwave of the year. The country experienced the hottest day of the year on 13 August as temperatures reached 38.1°C in Kew Gardens.

As a result of the heat, parks and natural areas are extremely dry, and wildfires are reported across the country.

As of 14 August, firefighters are doing their best to get a fire under control in the New Forest. The fires were first reported on the afternoon of 9 August, and it has taken more than 100 emergency service workers to try and get the flames under control. The Guardian reports Debbie Tann, the chief executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, saying, “It is devastating. It is just dry tinder across the whole forest. It has spread really quickly because of these dry conditions. The New Forest is one of the most important habitats in Europe. It has so many rare species in the heathland – reptiles, adders, lizards, and then the birds like nightjars. This is going to have a devastating impact.”

There are also ongoing fires across the West Midlands: 19 houses have been destroyed in Stourbridge, and smaller fires have occured across the region.

Meanwhile, firefighters are battling several fires in Wales, including one by Llangynidr Reservoir and a fire in Porth that has required the evacuation of many homes.

The latest incidents come after a spate of recent wildfires in the UK. A large-scale wildfire in Wales was declared a “major incident” in July, with Natural England warning that parts of the UK face an ‘exceptional’ risk of ongoing fires – particularly in Southern England. Further fires have also been reported on Halkyn Mountain in Flintshire and at Braichmelyn Forest in Bethesda. At the end of July, emergency services battled a wildfire in Suffolk that broke out on Dunwich Heath. Residents of nearby homes and those in a caravan park were evacuated, and there were reports that the scent of the fire filled the air along the coast.

According to Natural England's live Fire Severity Map, much of southern and eastern England is at a ‘very high’ risk of fires at the time of writing, with some corners of the country occasionally tipping into the ‘exceptional’ risk category. Comparatively, a majority of south-west England, Wales and northern England falls into the ‘moderate’ and ‘low’ risk categories.

While the news around UK wildfires can seem scary, it's important to understand the facts about the current reported risk factors – areas described as under ‘exceptional’ risk do not relate to the likelihood of fires occurring; rather, they are an assessment of how severe a fire could become if one were to start.

The FSI shows the current day's fire severity and a forecast of likely fire severity over the coming five days. The index values range from 1 to 5 and represent increasing degrees of fire severity.

To learn more, visit the Natural England website here.