UK red alert issued for exceptional wildfire risk

Parts of the United Kingdom are facing an "exceptional" risk of wildfires as a record-breaking heatwave continues into a second week, prompting urgent warnings from fire and weather authorities. The Natural Hazards Partnership has issued a red alert for extreme wildfire danger across southern England, the Midlands, and parts of the north, with the area of exceptional risk expected to expand to the South East and eastern England by the middle of the coming week.

Fire crews have been battling multiple blazes in recent days, underscoring the immediate threat. On Saturday, eight fire engines attended fires near Glossop in Derbyshire, while firefighters worked overnight Friday to contain a wildfire at Devils Dyke in the South Downs National Park. A major blaze also erupted on Conwy Mountain in North Wales, with smoke reported from miles away. Additional incidents included a fire involving shrubbery at Stratford Station in London on Friday and a large open fire on the South Downs near Eastbourne on Saturday.

The heightened danger is driven by prolonged hot, dry conditions, with many areas experiencing their second consecutive week of temperatures above the official heatwave threshold....