Helicopters have been deployed to combat a wildfire in Derbyshire, as major incidents were declared in north Wales and Derbyshire following wildfires that forced evacuations and threatened homes. Natural England has warned of an 'exceptional fire risk' in parts of southern Britain and a 'very high' risk across much of England and Wales, exacerbated by ongoing hot weather and strong winds.
In north Wales, residents were evacuated from their homes as a wildfire swept across Conwy Mountain. The fire service declared a major incident on Sunday, with the blaze affecting 'hundreds of acres' and the fire front measuring nearly a mile across. Steep terrain and strong winds hindered containment efforts. A spokesperson urged people to avoid the area and advised residents to keep windows and doors closed if affected by smoke. Evacuated residents were contacted and supported.
Residents Describe 'Crackling' Fire Approaching Homes
Ben Campbell, a resident of Capelulo, fled with his wife and three sons as the fire neared their home. He told the BBC: 'The sound was worse than anything. It was so loud, the crackling. You could hear it coming down the mountain.' Another evacuee described feeling helpless and scared.
In Derbyshire, a 'large scale wildfire' at Tintwistle Moor was fueled by 'tinder dry' ground, according to Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS). Helicopters were used to drop water on the flames. Ellie Gillatt, a DFRS area manager, said: 'Firefighters continue to face challenging conditions as they work to tackle the wildfire and protect the surrounding infrastructure and environment. This remains a significant and complex incident. DFRS has deployed multiple fire appliances and specialist wildfire resources.' Extra firefighters from neighboring services, along with mountain rescue teams and police, were called in to assist.
Fires Across England and Climate Context
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service responded to a moorland fire near Dovestone Reservoir, where strong winds carried smoke significant distances, with reports of haze and smoke smell as far as Manchester city centre. In London, 125 firefighters tackled a blaze in Walthamstow that affected a house, gardens, sheds, and a railway embankment, leading to some evacuations and two rest centres. About 50 firefighters fought a wildfire in Orpington, where several acres of grass were alight across two fields.
Friederike Otto, a professor of climate science at Imperial College London, linked the extreme heat to climate change, stating: 'The heat we have seen this summer is only possible because of the 1.4C of climate change we have to date, due to the burning of fossil fuels.' She cautioned against using the term 'new normal,' emphasizing that the climate continues to warm as long as fossil fuels are burned, making more intense heatwaves likely in the future.
