Long and hot summer causes 'massive' wildfire spike

All three of Wales' fire services have experienced a record number of callouts for wildfires this year

The number of wildfires across north, mid and west Wales this year has already exceeded the total amount for any year since 2020, according to new figures.

South Wales has also seen the number of grassland fire incidents hit a five-year high, despite there being four months of the year still to go.

Fire services have warned that regardless of efforts to work with landowners and educate the public, a long and hot summer has meant an increase in callouts.

Carl Williams, a station commander for Mid and West Wales Fire Service (MAWWFRS), said it represented a "massive spike" in the number of incidents.

MAWWFRS has dealt with 134 wildfire incidents in 2025, with over half of those happening in March.

It means the service has already surpassed its highest annual figures in the last five years when it dealt with a total of 111 incidents in 2022.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (NWFRS) has dealt with 63 wildfire incidents in the first eight months of this year, overtaking 2022's total of 54.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) record its statistics differently, but said that it had dealt with 1,429 grassland fires so far this year.

That means the service has surpassed its highest number of callouts when it dealt with 1,418 callouts in 2022.

Earlier this month Wales recorded its hottest August bank holiday on record, with a Flintshire village confirmed as the UK's warmest spot.

Some parts of Wales also experienced their fourth heatwave of the year.

Drought has been declared in north and south east Wales after the driest six months recorded in almost 50 years.

Fire services have urged people to educate themselves about the risks of fire

Combining all grassland, woodland, crop and wildfire blazes, Wales' three fire services have so far tackled 2,918 incidents this year.

That puts it ahead of the figures for the same point in 2022 - when 2,708 had been recorded - meaning the services are on course for their busiest year this decade.

Station commander Mr Williams said the hotter, drier summer had led to a "massive spike" in the deployment of the service's all terrain vehicle.

"This year it was forecasted that it would be a hotter, drier summer, so you've got that risk.

"Sometimes it's to do with unmanaged land - if they're not managed and a fire has caught, then that can cause more severe wildfires."

Mr Williams said the fire service had helped farmers burn their land, worked with landowners to improve access to remote areas and educated young people on fire risks.

"It's about understanding that if you've got yourselves a disposable barbecue make sure that you're putting down slabs, so that it doesn't burn down to the grass and catch fire."

But he said climate change meant it was "inevitable" wildfires would become more frequent in the future.

"If people feel at risk, I would urge them to contact the fire service and we can help with trying to reduce or mitigate those," he added.

Mr Williams said it was more resourceful to have one officer help a farmer burn some land safely, than 10 fire trucks turning up "because you'd lost control".

"It's about that partnership approach where we can work together."

Analysis by BBC meteorologists Derek Brockway and Sabrina Lee

Hot spells are to be expected over the summer and there is the potential for Wales to have its hottest summer on record.

The highest temperature we've had so far this year is 33.1C, with parts of Wales having also seen four heatwaves.

Last summer was the coolest since 2015 and even as the climate changes we can still get cool summers.

However, when looking at the overall trend over recent decades, temperatures are rising with our summers becoming hotter and drier, with more frequent and intense heatwaves in the future due to climate change.