UK sees over 110 wildfires in 2025—worst year on record yet

Post by: Layla Badr

Since the beginning of 2025, over 110 wildfires have been burning across the UK, making this one of the worst years for fires. According to data released on Monday, at least 111 fires have already burned almost 24,500 hectares of land. This is much higher than the average number of wildfires for this time of year and more than the same period in 2024.

The only years that were worse in terms of the area burned and the number of fires were 2019 and 2022. In 2019, almost 28,700 hectares were burned, while in 2022, there were 151 wildfires.

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In just a few months this year, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) reported that fire services in England and Wales have responded to 380 wildfires. This is more than double the number from the same time in 2022.

The data on wildfires comes from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), which uses satellites to track large fires of 30 hectares or more. This is different from the records kept by local authorities, which track fires that are at least one hectare.

The NFCC said that a very dry March, followed by warmer-than-usual temperatures in April, has led to many big wildfires across the UK. The UK and Ireland had a much drier March this year compared to average, and it was the hottest March ever recorded in Europe.

Phil Garrigan, the chair of the NFCC, mentioned that with the rise in extreme weather events, fire services are finding it harder to keep communities safe. The UK’s Met Office explained that the dry and windy conditions in spring, combined with a wet winter, created a lot of plants and dry materials that acted as “fuel” for the fires.

In Northern Ireland, firefighters have been battling many wildfires recently. Some people have even had to leave their homes due to the danger. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said they attended to 296 wildfires between April 3 and 10, many of which were believed to have been started on purpose.

In Scotland, an "extreme" wildfire warning was issued after several fires broke out in the past week. Michael Humphreys, from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said that last year’s wetter weather meant there were fewer fires in 2024.

Overall, the number of wildfires this year is concerning, and with the dry and warm conditions, the risk of more fires remains high. Firefighters are working hard to control the blazes and keep people safe, but the extreme weather makes it a difficult task.

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