Wildfire expert concerns over heatwave risks

A national wildfire expert has said he is "worried" about the UK's wildfires getting worse due to prolonged Mediterranean-like summers.

It comes after a major incident was declared in Conwy, north Wales, with incidents also declared in Derbyshire, Hampshire, Durham, West Sussex, East Sussex, Devon and Somerset.

Dave Swallow is a wildfire tactical advisor for the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and Group Commander with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

"On a personal level I definitely am worried about things getting worse, and I think this is probably just how the how summers are going to be in the future," he said.

Speaking on Tuesday, Swallow added: "When we get windy conditions on days like today that risk is massively increased and puts a lot of people at risk."

The group commander said call outs had "doubled at least" since the start of the summer with crews in Herefordshire and Worcestershire ordinarily attending between 10 and 15 incidents each day in normal conditions.

It has been a similar picture across the UK leading the NFCC to warn about "extreme pressure" on fire services due to the ongoing wildfires.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, NFCC chair Phil Garrigan said: "There's no real respite... There doesn't seem to be any rain forecast and that becomes problematic".

Swallow also said in his view the UK was starting to experience fires that were "more akin to the fires of Mediterranean regions".

"Especially when we get summers like this and dry periods with increased wind speeds they're the sort of things that are driving the fires in places like Spain and Portugal and France," he said.

"If we start to see those weather conditions more often in the UK there's a real risk that when the urban environment borders with wildland areas that wildfires will spread to properties and put people at risk."

Asked what measures should be put in place, Swallow said there was a need for improved public awareness, as well possibly a "danger rating system" similar to Australia.

The Australian Fire Danger Rating System calculates the potential severity of a bushfire if one were to start, based on forecast weather, vegetation types, and fuel.

The system puts the risk into four tiers:

• Moderate: Plan and prepare. Fires can start but are generally manageable.
• High: Be ready to act. Fires can be dangerous and difficult to control.
• Extreme: Take action now to protect your life and property.
• Catastrophic: For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas.

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