BRITAIN’S wildfire risk is climbing again as hot, dry spells return, and new satellite data shows just how quickly conditions can change across the UK’s uplands, heathlands and grasslands.

With July and August now recognised as peak wildfire months, experts say the country is entering a period where even small ignition sources can escalate at a terrifying rate.

Even during a typical mixed summer of showers and cloud, the underlying risk will seldom go away. The Met Office’s Fire Severity Index shows elevated danger levels across parts of Scotland, northern England and Wales, driven by dried out vegetation, short heat spikes that rapidly bake the ground, windy conditions, and human ignition sources like barbecues, campfires or discarded cigarettes

Fire crews have already responded to multiple grass and moorland fires this month, with several incidents visible on satellite heat‑detection maps.

Some major systems track wildfire activity across the UK:

NASA FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System)

Using MODIS and VIIRS satellites, FIRMS detects thermal anomalies – hotspots that indicate active fires or intense heat sources.

Over the past week, FIRMS has flagged small clusters of hotspots across Scottish moorland, several isolated detections in northern England, and a handful of short‑lived heat signatures in Wales.

Most detections are small, but they show how quickly fires can ignite in dry pockets of land.

EFFIS (European Forest Fire Information System)

EFFIS provides a Europe‑wide view, including fire danger forecasts. Its latest maps show high danger levels across eastern Scotland, moderate danger across the Pennines and Peak District, and localised high‑risk zones in Wales and the South West

UK‑focused wildfire trackers

Tools like LavenderCAM and Chaseit offer UK‑specific overlays, making it easier for people to see what’s happening near them. These maps update throughout the day, showing both active hotspots and recently burned areas.

Why the risk of wildfires is rising

Wildfire specialists say Britain’s risk peaks in late July and August because of several factors:

• Vegetation has had months to grow and then dry out
• Heatwaves, even short ones, rapidly lower ground moisture levels
• School holidays bring more people outdoors
• Even lightning strikes become more common during summer storms

This combination of fuel, heat, and human activity creates the perfect conditions for fast‑moving wildfires.

How to reduce the risk of wildfires

Fire services across the UK are urging people to:

• Avoid disposable barbecues in parks, beaches and moorland
• Keep vehicles off dry grass
• Take litter home (glass can magnify sunlight, and are a major ignition cause of wildfires)
• Extinguish cigarettes fully
• Report any smoke or flames without delay

If you spot a fire, call 999 immediately

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