Despite the recent wet weather, March has been exceptionally dry and has seen UK fires becoming more likely on open moorland and grassland which has become tinder-dry
As March has been exceptionally dry UK fires are becoming more likely on open moorland and grassland as they have become tinder-dry.
Of the 1991-2020 average rainfall for the whole month, Wales has only seen 15%, England 18%, and Scotland 36%. Over the past few days fires have been burning in numerous locations across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the moors of south west England.
Grass and heathland are dry with plenty of dead vegetation from the winter. Yesterday a wildfire broke out near Inverness with six fire engines in attendance as firefighters attempted to bring the blaze under control.
Another fire happened near Glasgow on Thursday, which has now been extinguished.
On Wednesday, the northern Highlands suffered a ten-acre blaze near Lairg and Dornoch, but firefighters managed to put it out quickly before ‘devastating’ consequences.
There was an extreme wildfire risk across lowland Scotland and the central Highlands on Friday.
Wales has also suffered numerous firefights, with one near Merthyr Tydfil and another in Powys. Around 50 hectares of bracken and trees had burned in the Llanwrthwl area, between Rhayader and Newbridge-on-Wye.
Other fires appeared in the county which were left to burn overnight and were due to be reinspected. Three fires happened in North Wales at Carrog near Corwen, Talysarn near Mynydd Cilgwyn, and Mynydd Llandygai Bethesda. More than 20 firefighters were there including a specialist wildfire unit.
They also tackled a large wildfire at Trefiw in Conwy county. An amber wildfire warning for Northern Ireland has been issued with dry and windy conditions increasing the risk of blazes.
The public have been given warnings about littering, using disposable BBQs, and burning waste.
There was a gorse fire in the Mourne Mountains earlier this week, with the fire service thinking it was started deliberately.
Over 60 firefighters and seven fire appliances were deployed to tackle the fire in Castlewellan on Monday.
There are many ways fires can start, including through the careless disposal of cigarettes, unattended BBQs and open fires or campfires, fires not extinguished properly or sunlight magnified by discarded glass bottles or other glass, and sparks from vehicles or other machinery.
Wildfires are most frequent between March and May, on grasslands, heathland and open moors.
Spells of showers this weekend should hopefully dampen the ground and vegetation.
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