How scorching temperatures increase risk of ‘extreme wildfires’ in England’s forests

Guardians of England's largest forests face severe challenges from "Mediterranean-style fire weather" if blazes erupt, a senior adviser to the Forestry Commission has warned.

Speaking to the the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Rob Gazzard spoke of the “extreme wildfire scenarios” experienced in 2022, describing the conditions as “Mediterranean weather – the same fire weather as Spain and Portugal, which we’re going to be experiencing this week.”

He added: “And those extreme scenarios are going to be very challenging to us. In essence, it might challenge our capabilities and our capacity.”

Over 800 wildfires were recorded on on 12 July 2022 when temperatures hit 40.3C, with the London Fire Brigade alone responding to 106 incidents.

The National Fire Chiefs Council chairman, Phil Garrigan, suggested a “rating system for fire risk” to restrict activities in wildfire-prone places like disposable barbecues, or in extreme cases, “restrictions around movement of people”.