Firefighters Warn of Surge in Deliberate Fires as UK Braces for Heatwave

On August 8th, 2025, firefighters in the UK have raised an urgent alarm as the country braces for its fourth heatwave of the summer. A warm weekend is forecast, followed by temperatures soaring into the mid-30s Celsius next week across parts of the UK, raising the prospect of another prolonged spell of hot weather amid a record-breaking dry summer.

Ahead of the impending heatwave, fire brigade chiefs in London are urging parents to inform their children about the "risks of starting an outdoor fires." This comes after firefighters have responded to nearly 80 incidents believed to have been started deliberately so far this summer. Dozens of homes were evacuated when a huge blaze broke out in a nature reserve in Dagenham, East London on July 14th, while another major incident was declared just yesterday in the Erith area, where firefighters found around two hectares of grassland alight. Investigators believe both fires were started deliberately.

According to London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall, the majority of wildfires tackled by firefighters in the capital are the result of human behavior, either deliberate or accidental, and can be "easily avoided by the public behaving responsibly." He has also urged the public not to bring disposable BBQs to green spaces or have bonfires, as these pose a significant fire risk during the ongoing dry conditions.