Wildfire Declared a Major Incident as Drought Spreads
A large wildfire prompted the declaration of a major incident overnight, as drought tightened its grip across England after the summer’s repeated heatwaves. Around half of the country is now formally in drought, with warnings that such conditions could become the “new normal”. Firefighters battled the blaze amid tinder-dry conditions.
The spread of drought, now covering swathes of England, has left reservoirs and rivers depleted and farmland parched, with hosepipe bans affecting tens of millions. The declaration of a major incident — a status that unlocks extra resources and co-ordination — underlined how stretched the emergency services have become during a summer of fires. Scientists link the lengthening, drier summers to a warming climate, and warn that Britain’s infrastructure is poorly prepared. Ministers face pressure over water supply and wildfire readiness. Watch whether more regions are added to the drought map and how the fire is contained.