LONDON

British firefighters are battling an unprecedented rise in wildfires, with crews warning that they are stretched to the limit as another heat wave grips the country.

According to the National Fire Chiefs Council, fire and rescue services in England and Wales have already tackled 856 wildfires this year – a sharp increase compared to previous years and on track to surpass the record-breaking totals of 2022.

In 2022, there were 596 wildfires by the end of July. This year, the number has increased 33% to 793. In comparison to 2024, the increase is even more dramatic, reaching 663%.

The UK has experienced a dry spring and several summer heat waves. The Met Office says temperatures could peak at 34C (93.2F) this week in parts of southern England, marking the fourth heat wave of the summer in some areas.

In recent days, major blazes have tested emergency resources.

On Saturday, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident as more than 100 firefighters battled two large heath fires, with crews drafted in from neighboring counties and even as far as Lancashire, Merseyside, and Greater Manchester.

In Scotland, crews worked through the night on Sunday to control a blaze on Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat.

National Fire Chiefs Council Chair Phil Garrigan warned: "Firefighters are already being pushed to their limits, with the major incident declared in Dorset and Wiltshire this week and the blaze at Arthur’s Seat showing just how demanding and dangerous these events can be."

Officials say the rising number and intensity of wildfires are placing “increased operational demand” on services without any proportional increase in resources.