A major incident has been declared in North Wales as firefighters across the UK battle 19 separate blazes, with tinder-dry conditions and temperatures hitting 35.2C in Derbyshire on Friday – the sixth time this year the mercury has reached 35C, a record for 2026.
Crews from Wales to the North West, London and the South East are facing dwindling water supplies and strong winds. “The conditions we are seeing are exceptional,” said Dave Swallow, the National Fire Chiefs Council’s wildfire tactical advisor. “Strong winds and dry conditions for weeks are making our efforts extra challenging.”
“Major incident declared as 19 wildfires rage across UK amid record heatwave”
In Conwy, near Sychant Pass, people were told to leave their homes as flames threatened properties. In east London, hundreds were evacuated after a fire ripped through a house and railway embankment near Wood Street station in Walthamstow. At its peak, 20 fire engines and around 125 firefighters tackled the blaze, which destroyed one home and several sheds before being brought under control by 10.30pm. Thick smoke was visible for miles. The cause is under investigation, but local MP Stella Creasy said there had been an “electrical fire on the train line”.
Elsewhere, a blaze the size of 14 football pitches broke out in High Shincliffe, County Durham, and fires burned at Devil’s Dyke in West Sussex, near Eastbourne Downs Golf Club, and on the moors at Dovestones in Oldham, where crews are still damping down hotspots. In Essex, firefighters put out a fire with “limited water supplies” at a rural industrial site on Friday. The same evening, a “trackside” fire at Stratford Station in London closed rail lines before being controlled by 9.30pm.
The London Fire Brigade has urged the public not to use disposable barbecues over the weekend, while the Metropolitan Police warned of a surge in 999 calls and asked people to contact them only for emergencies. Amber and yellow heat health alerts remain in force across much of England until 9pm on Wednesday.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster David Hayter said: “Areas of central and southern England and Wales are expected to see several more consecutive days of temperatures above 30C. While temperatures are expected to reach into the low to mid-30s through the weekend, the focus of the heat will gradually shift towards western parts of the UK.” He added that thunderstorms were possible from Monday in parts of the south, but most areas will remain dry and sunny.
The heatwave – which has already made 2026 the first year to record 35C on six occasions – shows no sign of easing, leaving firefighters stretched and communities on edge.
