Record Number of Wildfires Tackled by English Fire Services in 2025
In 2025, ten English fire services reported a record number of grassland, woodland, and crop fires during the spring and summer, coinciding with the UK's warmest spring and summer on record. A PA Media analysis reveals that nearly 27,000 wildfires were dealt with by English fire services throughout the year.
Between March and May 2025, there were at least 12,454 such fires, more than four times the number recorded in 2024 and the highest spring total in over a decade. Dorset and Wiltshire fire service experienced 298 incidents in spring and 459 in summer, with the spring total being the highest since records began in 2011. Other services including Tyne and Wear, Durham and Darlington, Derbyshire, and Northumberland also saw significant numbers during the spring period, contributing to a record spring season.
From June to August 2025, the count of grassland, woodland, and crop fires reached 14,448, among the highest summer tallies, though less than the 20,858 recorded in 2022. The highest temperature in the UK that year was 35.8°C in Faversham, Kent. The Met Office confirmed that the spring and summer of 2025 were the warmest on record, with spring also being the driest in over 100 years.
Data covered only 35 of 43 mainland fire services, suggesting the actual number of incidents was likely higher. One notable incident was the Holt Heath wildfire near Bournemouth in August, which was declared a major incident. The wildfire destroyed 72 hectares and was suspected to have been deliberately ignited, requiring support from across the UK fire services.
