UK Faces Unprecedented Fire Risk Amid Heatwave

A UK wildfire expert has expressed that the country has never been at such high risk of fire outbreaks as it currently experiences a record heatwave. Professor Claire Belcher from Exeter University highlighted that a fire prediction system developed by universities recorded a 100% chance of a spark igniting a fire in Somerset on Wednesday. This situation prompts warnings about potential ignitions from everyday sources like bonfires, barbecues, or agricultural machinery.

This comes as Natural England issued advisories for responsible cigarette disposal and a ban on disposable barbecues in wild areas due to an "exceptional" fire risk. A hedgerow blaze in Somerset on Saturday was one of several fires across England and Wales recently. Professor Belcher observed that while England hasn't typically been prone to fires, northern temperate landscapes are now exhibiting a significantly increased susceptibility.