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Number of wildfires recorded in England in 2026 was second highest on record
Prolonged hot, dry conditions left land parched and in drought, while 2022 remains the record year with 1,592 wildfires, officials said.
- On Thursday, the Housing Department reported England recorded 1,354 wildfires between January and August 2026, marking the second-highest annual total on record behind 2022.
- Prolonged hot and dry weather throughout spring and summer left the English countryside parched, plunging large swathes of England into drought and creating conditions conducive to widespread wildfire outbreaks.
- Major incidents included two blazes in Stourbridge near Dudley that destroyed 19 homes, while fires devastated wildlife habitats at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk and spread across ancient trees near the A31 in New Forest.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham introduced a temporary ban on disposable barbecues in August to mitigate risks, while the Housing Department invested nearly £100 million to upgrade national resilience assets.
- Cooler, wetter weather anticipated between October and December suggests the 2026 annual count is unlikely to overtake the 2022 record, with officials expecting totals to remain below that peak.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources10
Leaning Left2Leaning Right1Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 22%
C 67%
11%
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