Home / Environment / Surrey's Wildfire Risk Soars: Heatwave Sparks Urgent Plea
Surrey's Wildfire Risk Soars: Heatwave Sparks Urgent Plea
4 Jul
Summary
- Authorities urge visitors to avoid barbecues and dispose of litter safely.
- South-east England braces for another heatwave following June's record.
- Multiple wildfires have already occurred on protected Surrey heathlands.
Countryside visitors in Surrey are being urged to help prevent wildfires as the region faces an increased risk. Surrey Fire & Rescue Service and the Surrey Nature Partnership have highlighted that the county's internationally significant heathlands are particularly vulnerable. Authorities recommend simple measures such as abstaining from barbecues in heathland areas, ensuring safe cigarette disposal, and taking litter home.
This appeal coincides with forecasts predicting another heatwave for south-east England, following a record-breaking hot spell in June. The partnership noted that most wildfires in Surrey originate from human activity and are preventable. Extreme temperatures are already impacting the area, necessitating heightened vigilance.
Several wildfires have already occurred in Surrey during 2026, affecting protected sites like Hankley Common and Blackheath Common. The National Trust reported four barbecue fires at its Box Hill site over the May Bank Holiday weekend. In 2022, a single fire at Pirbright Ranges consumed over 650 acres, and Surrey Wildlife Trust lost approximately 2,500 acres of land to fire that year. Climate change is predicted to exacerbate this risk, making the region's climate more Mediterranean.
