Wildfires

What it is

A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire that burns vegetation such as grass, heather, woodland, crops and scrubland. Be Ready says most wildfires in the UK are caused by human activity. Every year they destroy large areas of countryside and wildlife habitat and do long-lasting environmental damage. They spread quickly and can threaten homes and infrastructure, particularly in warm dry weather.

What it does to a home

A wildfire can reach property and force an evacuation. More often it reaches homes as smoke. Be Ready says wildfires usually happen in dry periods and the smoke and ash can affect respiratory conditions, so if smoke is affecting air quality in your area, keep windows and doors closed. The advice on poor air quality and pollution applies. The National Fire Chiefs Council's Wildfire Aware campaign explains how to prepare and protect a home and garden.

Who warns you

There is no forecast warning service for wildfires in the way the Met Office warns of a storm. Be Ready says local fire and rescue services, landowners and other organisations provide wildfire advice, and that you should always check for advice that applies to the area you live in or are visiting, which may include restrictions on access to certain places. The government's Fire Kills campaign publishes a Fire Safety Outdoors leaflet.

The UK Emergency Alerts system can send a loud siren-like alert to every compatible phone in an area for a life-threatening emergency, and wildfires are the first example gov.uk gives. The alert sounds even on a silent phone and is based on where the phone is, not where you live. When you get one, stop what you are doing and follow its instructions.

How the government assesses it

The National Risk Register 2025 says climate change is expected to bring longer drier summers, drier vegetation and more frequent, larger wildfires. Its reasonable worst case is a sustained and widespread extreme wildfire needing multi-agency attendance over four to seven days, with evacuations, a high risk of casualties, and significant damage to infrastructure, transport, utilities and the environment. Wildfires typically occur between February and October, and several can burn at once after a prolonged hot dry spell, stretching mutual aid between fire and rescue services. Fire and Rescue Authorities must plan for foreseeable risks including wildfire through their Integrated Risk Management Plans, and the Home Office has published a National Framework setting out roles and responsibilities for managing wildfire in England. Fire and rescue services would lead the response, with national capabilities such as high-volume pumps.

Wildfire sits alongside hot weather and drought in the register, which expects them to arrive together.

Where to look

• NFCC Wildfire Aware at nfcc.org.uk.
• Fire Kills Fire Safety Outdoors leaflet, linked from the Be Ready page.
• Emergency Alerts at gov.uk/alerts.
• Related pages: hot weather and heatwaves, droughts, poor air quality and pollution, fires in the home.