Amber wildfire warning issued for many of England as temperatures hit 22C

The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning for large parts of the UK as temperatures are set to soar to over 20C this week, with fire services urging the public to take care

The Met Office has cranked up the heat on warnings by slapping an amber alert for wildfires across swathes of Britain, blaming the spell of warm weather.

These alerts cover a large swathe of England, including London, Dover in Kent, and Wiltshire. The warning then spread to Northern Ireland and southern Scotland by Wednesday.

With the mercury set to hit a scorching 22C on Friday, fire brigades are on their toes, urging Brits to be extra vigilant to prevent any flare-ups of wildfires.

Kathryn Chalk, a Met Office meteorologist, spelled out the risk: “With strong winds and ongoing dry/warm weather this brings a continued likelihood for wildfire conditions through the period.”

Chalk continued: “There is currently an amber fire danger rating across England extending into Northern Ireland and the rest of southern Scotland on Wednesday.”

But it’s not all doom and gloom, as she added: “However, showers moving into the far South West will bring some relief to these parts. Then dry weather continues Friday and Saturday extending further north across western Scotland.

“It’s a large England warning, covering most of England.”

Acknowledging the unpredictable nature of wildfires, she emphasized: “We can’t be specific on locations due to the nature of wildfires though, and best to stick with the weather conditions with the dry air, breezy and warm conditions, hence the warning, with slightly cooler conditions with the onshore breeze along eastern coasts.”

The London Fire Brigade has sounded the alarm that despite it not being as warm as it gets in summer, the threat of wildfires is still very much alive this spring due to drier conditions. They’re appealing to the public to steer clear of disposable barbecues and to be careful when getting rid of cigarettes, matches, and rubbish.

London Fire Brigade’s assistant commissioner Paul McCourt has called on Londoners to enjoy the sun with care: “We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine but we urge people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent a grass fire from starting.”

He underscored the critical situation by pointing to recent events overseas: “Recent events in Los Angeles and South Korea have demonstrated how rapidly fires can spread outdoors, even when temperatures are not at their highest.”

With London under an amber wildfire alert, McCourt advised: “The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning, covering London, and this will be in place for the rest of the week.”

With the weekend looming, he reiterated the need for caution: “As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire.”

He added that joint efforts were being made to mitigate the risks: “We’re also working closely with partners, such as local authorities, to help manage the risks in outdoor spaces and ensure the public are following the safety advice.”