UK may be on track to see worst year for wildfires, data shows

The UK may be on track to see its worst year for wildfires, according to latest figures.

Satellite data shows 2025 is already the second worst year on record by area burned and number of fires.

It also reveals that in the last week there have been more blazes in the country compared with other parts of Europe experiencing similar weather conditions.

As of Monday, there have been 115 blazes and an area of more than 95 square miles (24,890 hectares) – nearly the size of Edinburgh – has been scorched since 1 January, according to European Forest Fire Information System figures.

Only 2019 was worse for area burned (28,754 hectares) and 2022 for the number of fires (151).

The data shows the UK has seen more fires from January to April, compared with the same period in 2024, and is higher than expected for the time of year.

The Met Office said the fires are due to dry and breezy conditions in spring which came after a damp winter, meaning there was “fuel” for the blazes because of plant growth.

Further dry conditions could make 2025 the worst year for wildfires, it said.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 411 wildfires so far this year – more than double the number for the same period in 2022 (189).

The NFCC said responding to wildfires “requires a lot of resource” which puts more pressure on other service activities.

“These figures paint a concerning picture about the growing incident rate of wildfires in the UK,” a spokesman said.

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Earlier this month, a “severe” rating for wildfires was issued for parts of the UK – and some fire services told residents not to have barbecues in open spaces due to the dry and warm conditions.

Several hectares of woodland in the Moors Valley Country Park on the Dorset-Hampshire border were destroyed by wildfires.

A large blaze in Galloway was one of a number which also broke out in Scotland in a matter of days.