CAUSES
Mostly human activity
The NFCC lists littering, unattended campfires and barbecues, deliberate fire-setting and controlled burns that get away. Glass and reflective litter can start a fire too.
Check a situation
WHAT THE FIRE SERVICES SAY
Many wildfires
start with people.
The UK does get wildfires, and more of them in hot, dry years.
Grass, heath and moorland can burn fast once dead vegetation dries out. Fire services say many UK wildfires begin with human activity: a barbecue, a cigarette, litter or a fire set on purpose. Lightning is rare.
102,549 small outdoor fires, 2025/26
Check a situation- No fires, BBQs only where signed
- Take glass and litter home
- Call 999 for unattended fires
- Small habits, safer hillsides
THE SHORT ANSWER
Dry ground,
human spark.
Weather sets the stage.
People often strike the match.
WEATHER
How bad could it get?
The Met Office's Fire Severity Index uses rain, drought, wind, temperature and humidity to show how severe a fire could become. It does not predict where one will start.
About the index
THE NUMBERS
A hot summer shows
In the year to March 2026, England's fire services attended 102,549 secondary fires, mostly small outdoor fires, after the hot, dry summer of 2025.
See the numbers
FOUR HABITS TO TRY
Leave the hill
as you found it.
These come straight from the Countryside Code and fire service advice. None needs special kit.
Check the signs before a barbecue
Only use one where signs say barbecues are allowed, and never light an open fire.
Put it out, then check again
Make sure barbecue ashes are cold before you dispose of them, responsibly.
Carry your litter home
Cigarette ends, glass bottles and reflective items can all start a fire on dry ground.
Call 999 if a fire is unattended
The Countryside Code asks anyone who sees an unattended fire to call 999, and to be careful with naked flames.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Hot summers,
busy fire crews.
One national figure for England,
one from a study of fires in South Wales.
+30%
Secondary fires, year ending March 2026
Fire and rescue services attended 102,549 secondary fires, generally small outdoor fires not involving people or property, up from 79,121 the year before. The Home Office links high numbers to the hot, dry summers of 2018, 2022 and 2025.
ENGLAND · HOME OFFICE
60%+
Wildfires starting between 4pm and midnight
A Forest Research study of wildfires in South Wales found over 60% occurred between 4pm and midnight, with a peak season generally from March to May. The region recorded over 55,000 grass fires between 2000 and 2008.
SOUTH WALES · FOREST RESEARCH
Outdoor primary fires in England, the larger ones, rose 48% to 6,924 in the same year, the Home Office reports.
A QUICK COUNTRYSIDE CHECK
What could
start a fire?
Pick an everyday situation on a walk or day out. The bar shows how directly fire service and Countryside Code guidance warns against it.
Based on the Countryside Code (GOV.UK) and the National Fire Chiefs Council's Wildfire Aware campaign. Local rules and signs always apply.
THE FIRE SEVERITY INDEX
A forecast of
how bad, not where.
The Met Office updates the Fire Severity Index every day using rainfall, drought, wind speed, temperature and humidity. Humidity matters especially in the UK, because dry air makes dead vegetation more flammable.
Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and other bodies use it under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000: when conditions are exceptional, they can suspend open access rights on vulnerable land to help prevent fires.
Questions
Questions people ask
What counts as a wildfire?
There is no single definition. The NFCC's operational definition includes a fire covering at least one hectare, flames over 1.5 metres, at least four fire service appliances or at least six hours of work, or a serious threat to life, environment, property or infrastructure.
Does lightning start UK wildfires?
Rarely. The NFCC says lightning-caused wildfires are rare in the UK and that many start from human activity such as litter, unattended fires and deliberate fire-setting.
When is wildfire season in the UK?
A Forest Research study in South Wales found a peak season generally between March and May. The NFCC says wildfires are now starting earlier in the season and lasting longer.
Can I have a barbecue in the countryside?
The Countryside Code says to only have barbecues where signs say you can, to put them out, and to make sure the ashes are cold before disposing of them responsibly.
Why is there smoke on the moors in winter?
Some land managers use controlled fires to manage vegetation on heaths and moors between 1 October and 15 April. If you see an unattended fire, the Countryside Code says to call 999.
Sources
- GOV.UK: The Countryside Code, advice for countryside visitors
- GOV.UK (Home Office): Fire and rescue incident statistics, England, year ending March 2026
- NFCC: Wildfire Aware
- Met Office: Fire Severity Index, understanding wildfire conditions in the UK
- Forest Research: Wildfires in Wales, social drivers and mitigation measures
Updated