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Wildfire Alert: England Faces Exceptional Fire Risk
13 Jul
Summary
- South-east England faces exceptional wildfire risk due to hot weather.
- Highest fire severity rating is active for several West Sussex and Surrey locations.
- Record temperatures in 2026 contribute to significantly increased wildfire danger.
Parts of south-east England are currently under an exceptional wildfire risk warning due to hot weather conditions. Natural England has issued the highest rating on its Fire Severity Index for several areas in West Sussex, including Bognor Regis, Selsey, and Chichester, on specific days in July 2026. Guildford and Godalming in Surrey also face this severe risk on Wednesday.
This elevated alert comes after firefighters battled multiple blazes across East and West Sussex over the recent weekend. Incidents included fires in woods near Brighton and on the South Downs near Eastbourne, as well as a field fire near Pulborough. The FSI evaluates the potential severity of a wildfire if ignited under current weather conditions.
Across the week, the majority of the South East region holds a 'very high' rating, the second-highest level on the index. Fire officials emphasize that dry, sunny, and hot conditions significantly heighten wildfire risk.
2026 has already seen record-breaking temperatures, with this year marking the first time 35C (95F) has been recorded on six separate days. It is also the first year with temperatures of 35C or higher across three calendar months and has set a new record for days reaching 34C (93.2F) or higher.
