Wildfire risk as heatwave set to hit the UK

A fire service gave a wildfire warning after the UK was set to experience a heatwave.

Northampton Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) urged people to take care when using barbeques and disposing cigarettes outside, as temperatures of 31C (86F) were forecast this week.

According to the Met Office, the Fire Severity Index (FSI), which measures how severe a fire could be, was very high for Northamptonshire.

Neil Sadler, area manager for operational response at NFRS, said: "We're asking the public to listen to safety advice during this time, and to follow any local fire bans and restrictions issued by your local council or authority. Always call 999 if you see any signs of smoke or fire."

He added: "In response to the higher risk level, we have reviewed our operational capabilities to make sure that we are prepared to respond and keep the people of Northamptonshire safe and protected from fire."

As a result of the dry spells, the fire service asked residents to ensure barbecues were not left unattended and cigarettes were fully extinguished before disposal.

It said people should also avoid using sky lanterns or fireworks, and should not burn garden waste.

It encouraged people to take litter home with them, as broken glass bottles could spark wildfires.

The Met Office's definition of a heatwave is when a temperature threshold lasts for at least three consecutive days, varying from 25C across the north and west of the UK, to 28C in parts of eastern England.

Whilst Northamptonshire had experienced intermittent warm temperatures in recent weeks, the warm spells had not been long enough to be classed as a heatwave.

This week, however, temperatures were set to vary from 24C to 31C - which would be the hottest temperatures of 2025 so far.

Heatwaves were becoming more common due to climate change.

This could create problems for infrastructure, such as train tracks expanding and buckling in the heat, causing services to run at slower speeds.

The most recent heat-related disruption to the railway was in July 2022 when temperatures broke the UK temperature records and National Rail issued a "do not travel" warning.

According to National Rail, there were currently no weather-related disruptions reported.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.