UK Fire Chiefs Warn of New Wildfire Era Amid Drought and Heatwaves

Firefighters across the United Kingdom are battling an unprecedented summer of wildfires, with emergency services warning that prolonged drought and repeated heatwaves are creating a new era of severe fire risk. The alert comes as a wildfire warning has been issued for parts of Scotland, and crews continue to contain major blazes in regions including Hampshire's New Forest.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, issued a warning for a very high risk of wildfire across the eastern Highlands and eastern and southern Scotland from Wednesday, August 12, until Thursday, August 13. The warning coincides with ongoing efforts to dampen down hotspots in Cairngorms National Park, where a wildfire began near the Ryvoan Bothy four weeks ago. "It's extremely important members of the public exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame during a wildfire warning," said SFRS deputy assistant chief officer Kenny Barbour. "These fires place a huge drain on our resources and pose a threat to the safety of our firefighters and members of our communities."

The Scottish warning is part of a broader national...