Residents near Conwy Mountain in north Wales have been evacuated as a large wildfire forced the declaration of a major incident. The blaze is just one of dozens that have broken out across England and Wales during a record-breaking heatwave that has left large parts of the country at an ‘exceptional’ risk of fire.
What is happening? Firefighters are tackling multiple wildfires across the UK. In north Wales, a major incident has been declared for a fire on Conwy Mountain and the Sychnant Pass, with 10 or more other fires reported over the same weekend in Greater Manchester, Camberley, County Durham, Derbyshire, East Sussex, West Sussex, Devon and Somerset. In east London, 125 firefighters were called to a railway embankment blaze in Walthamstow that produced a “significant amount of smoke”. The fires come during a prolonged heatwave that has pushed temperatures above 30°C and triggered amber and yellow heat health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) across most of England.
“An explainer on UK wildfires: causes, risks, and recent incidents during a record heatwave.”
Why are these fires happening? The UK is experiencing its third heatwave of the year, with 2026 already becoming the first year to record 35°C on six separate days. The hot, dry weather has created tinderbox conditions. The Met Office’s Fire Severity Index (FSI) – which uses wind speed, temperature, time of year and rainfall to assess how severe a fire could become – has placed southern England and pockets of the south Midlands in its highest “exceptional” risk category. Most of the rest of England and Wales is at “very high” risk. The prolonged lack of rainfall, combined with record-breaking heat, means any ignition – from a discarded cigarette to a spark from machinery – can spread rapidly.
Why does this matter for UK readers? The immediate risks are to life and property. Residents in Capelulo, near Conwy Mountain, were told to “leave safely and follow instructions”. Smoke can cause breathing difficulties, and the London Fire Brigade advised people to close windows and doors. Beyond the fires themselves, the heatwave brings health impacts: amber and yellow heat health alerts mean significant strain on health and social care services. Water companies in the east of England, Cambridge, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and parts of Kent have introduced hosepipe bans. And the Met Office says further heatwaves are “certainly possible” in July and August.
Q: What is a ‘major incident’ in the context of a wildfire? A major incident is a formal declaration by emergency services that a situation requires a co-ordinated response beyond routine operations. It triggers extra resources and multi-agency collaboration. In north Wales, the declaration allowed fire crews to call in specialist wildfire resources and partner agencies, and led to the evacuation of residents near the fire.
Q: How do wildfires start in the UK? Most UK wildfires are started by human activity, not lightning. Common causes include discarded cigarettes, campfires left unattended, barbecues, and machinery sparks. The Met Office says the hot and dry conditions create an “elevated risk” of spreading if “ignition” is provided. The prolonged heatwave means even a small spark can quickly turn into a large fire.
Q: What is the Fire Severity Index? The Fire Severity Index (FSI) is a Met Office tool that assesses how severe a wildfire could become if one were to start. It uses data on wind speed, temperature, time of year and recent rainfall. The index runs from low to exceptional; the highest category, “exceptional”, was applied to southern England and parts of the Midlands during the recent heatwave. Natural England publishes the FSI online.
What happens next? Fire crews in north Wales said operations “are expected to continue for some time”. The heat health alerts run until Wednesday night, and the Met Office warns of another very dry week ahead. Parts of southern England may see thunderstorms on Monday, but overall the dry, hot spell is likely to persist, keeping the risk of further wildfires high.
