During 2026, many wildfires have occurred across the United Kingdom, fuelled by several record-breaking heatwaves. As of 10 August, over have been burnt, with 72 fires larger than being recorded. Several of these fires forced evacuations and damaged property and protected habitats, with many requiring multi-agency responses as fire authorities raised risk levels and issued warnings amid deteriorating conditions.
Overview The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) keeps records of wildfires in Europe and has maintained a database since 2004. This year's fires have not been as severe as the previous year's, which saw both the highest burned area and number of fires since the EFFIS's records began, reaching and 181 fires greater than . As of 10 August, have been burnt, with 72 fires at least in size being mapped during 2026. These fires were exacerbated by a series of record-breaking heatwaves that saw extreme temperatures and dry conditions throughout May, June and July. To respond to the wildfires, firefighting techniques have been deployed including helicopters. A study has found that large fires in the northern hemisphere could increase UK air pollution. The wildfires have been reportedly affected by climate change. There were particularly destructive wildfires on the hottest day of the year. On 17 August, the Met Office forecast rain and thunderstorms.
March
On 4 March, a wildfire broke out on Marsden Moor and grew to before being brought under control. On 23 March, eight appliances tackled a blaze at the Stiperstones which burned around of gorse. Two fires covering around and respectively started close to the Scout Moor Wind Farm and took crews around four hours to bring under control. On 28 March, over 60 firefighters tackled fires on heathland near Sandford, the first of which affected around before multiple others were found nearby, all of which were believed to have been started deliberately.
April England On 7 April, firefighters were called to blazes at two locations on Marsden Moor which spread to ; a further four fires broke out on the moor the following. On 11 April, a fire burned around of heathland at Whitmoor Common. On 20 April, a wildfire at Pegwell Bay destroyed around of a reed bed. During the early hours of 22 April, an approximately wildfire broke out on moorland close to Ladybower Reservoir in Derbyshire, burning for around nine hours. Another wildfire covering of moorland at Woodhead Reservoir in Derbyshire, close to the Woodhead Pass, broke out in the evening of 22 April and was tackled by fire crews from four counties at its peak. The Surrey Fire and Rescue Service issued a wildfire warning on 23 April after two fires that week at Hankley Common and Blackheath Common affected and respectively. On 24 April, several engines tackled a large fire on Bodmin Moor near Minions. Another fire started on Marsden Moor on 26 April near Scammonden Reservoir, with ten crews working into the following day to extinguish it. On 27 April, crews in Hampshire worked overnight to tackle a blaze which destroyed around of heathland and woodland near Bordon. On 30 April, a wildfire started near Snake Pass and affected around of moorland before being brought under control after five days.
Northern Ireland On 25 April, a large wildfire broke out in the Mourne Mountains near Newcastle which was tackled by 80 firefighters and burned around before being brought under control on 28 April. On 26 April, another fire started in the mountains, this time near Hilltown, which was dealt with by 30 April after spreading to around . Another fire started near Newcastle on 28 April and was brought under control by 30 April; at its height 45 firefighters were at the scene tackling a fire front of . On 29 April, a fire started near Mullaghbawn and grew to with 30 firefighters working to extinguish it. Another fire in the forest at Loughermore was being tackled by 49 firefighters. On 30 April, around 85 firefighters fought a blaze that burned through in Brookeborough, where teams worked carefully to protect a curlew nest, which is critically endangered in Northern Ireland.
Scotland On 23 April, six appliances were sent to a large grass fire near Kincorth in Aberdeen. On 24 April, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service tackled several wildfires, including one at Tarbet which was fought by four crews and a specialist team for nine hours and another which stretched for on the banks of Loch Fionn.
Wales
On 26 April, several wildfires started in the Elan Valley which took crews from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service over six days to bring under control with the assistance of a helicopter. Smoke from the fires could be seen from space, with satellite images showing a plume of smoke stretching over across Mid Wales; following heavy rainfall, the fire service said the situation had "improved significantly" by 1 May after over had been burnt. On 29 April, a large wildfire broke out in the Brecon Beacons National Park near Pen y Fan and spread to over , forcing the closure of the A470 road.
May
A wildfire which broke out in the Peak District late on 30 April escalated at the start of May. The fire, which was burning close to the summit of the A57 Snake Pass road, expanded to cover by dawn on 1 May and forced the closure of the Snake Pass for two days. Nine fire engines attended the fire alongside specialists from the Derby Mountain Rescue unit and a water-bombing helicopter. Smoke from the fire drifted over the town of Glossop, with residents warned to keep doors and windows closed. The fire burned of moorland before being brought under control on 2 May.
On 25 May, a wildfire broke out on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, with crews working into the following day to bring it under control. On 28 May, a fire started in the Pentland Hills, with six engines tackling it at its height.
June A woodland fire broke out close to houses and a railway line in Beighton, Sheffield during the night of 19 June, with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue sending crews from four fire stations to tackle the blaze. The fire burned for several hours before being brought under control, and subsequent investigation alongside the British Transport Police determined the source of the fire to be arson in a pile of disused railway sleepers on Network Rail land.
On 24 June, a blaze started on moorland near Tintwistle which ultimately spread to over as it continued to burn more than a month later. By the next day, the wildfire had significantly escalated, as high winds caused it to spread from low-lying moorland into the canopy of surrounding woodlands. A United Utilities water-bombing helicopter conducted around 2,000 sorties over the fire, dropping more than 10 million litres of water onto it from above over three days at a cost of at least £500,000; the fire was initially contained by 26 June, before re-escalating in mid-July.
July England On 4 July, a wildfire believed to have been started deliberately near Wareham was tackled by crews from 13 stations. On 6 July, another fire believed to have been started deliberately burnt of heathland at Bourne Valley. Also on 6 July, a fire broke out in woodland at the Strawberry Hill Heath nature reserve near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire; the fire burned for around seven hours before being brought under control, although remained smouldering underground for a considerable time afterwards. On 7 July, four engines and several specialist vehicles fought a blaze that affected at Brentmoor Heath. On 10 July, 13 vehicles including eight fire engines were sent to a blaze at Devil's Dyke which continued into the following day.
On 11 July, a large wildfire began near Dove Stone Reservoir and later merged with a pre-existing fire that had started on 24 June at Tintwistle before meeting another fire at Saddleworth Moor which started on 14 July, combining to destroy around of moorland. The Tintwistle Moor fire re-escalated due to high winds on 13 July, and combined with other fires in the area this prompted the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service to declare a major incident whilst National Highways closed the Woodhead Pass for several days. One person was charged with aggravated arson whilst another two were arrested on suspicion of arson in relation to the Dove Stone fire, with footage on social media showing fireworks being set off close to the reservoir in the hours before the fire was first reported. Wildfire smoke drifting into Greater Manchester resulted in PM pollution levels peaking at 100 μg/m3 in Manchester city centre on 12 July, more than five times higher than the WHO safe legal limit, and 150 μg/m3 in residential areas of Tameside. Another moorland fire started nearby close to Penistone on 16 July, this time caused by a single-vehicle road accident where a car left the road on the Woodhead Pass and flipped over into a field before catching fire. By 21 July, pub owners in the moorlands above Sheffield said that persistent road closures due to the Peak District wildfires were affecting their trade, with the landlord of the Dog & Partridge Inn at Flouch warning that staff may have to be made redundant to cut costs due to lost income. The Woodhead Pass eventually reopened on 31 July after five weeks of wildfires in the area.
Over 60 firefighters worked to control a wildfire near Blackwater which burnt around of heath and woodland. Crews in Devon tackled four separate grass fires, including one near Collaton St Mary that spread to . On 12 July, four appliances extinguished a fire that burnt around of fields close to the Maiden Castle Sports Centre. A fire broke out in a field close to residential properties on Grange Road in Rawmarsh, Rotherham on 17 July in an apparent arson attack. On 18 July, a heathland fire destroyed tents at the Rustic Stomp festival near Wareham in Dorset. On 20 July, a wildfire which was tackled by eight appliances damaged around of ancient woodland at Abbot's Wood near Polegate. On 22 July, a car fire spread to a nearby field at Ireland's Cross near Woore in Shropshire.
A significant wildfire broke out in Grenoside, Sheffield during the early hours of 23 July. The fire began in a field close to a residential area and subsequently spread rapidly into gardens, ultimately destroying a row of five terraced houses between Grimsell Crescent and Fox Hill Road and causing damage to five more homes. A large area was evacuated during the height of the fire, which was tackled by crews from eight fire engines at its peak. Two people suffered minor injuries, and the fire was brought under control during the morning. Later that day, a 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson and criminal damage offences. Local MP Marie Tidball said that her thoughts were with those who had been made homeless or otherwise affected by the fire in Sheffield. Officers from South Yorkshire Police, who had been out on routine patrol in the area and first spotted the fire, were praised for their quick actions in evacuating residents from their homes as the wildfire approached before the fire brigade were able to arrive on scene.
On 23 July a heathland fire in a rare lowland coastal heath habitat at Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight caused around 9 ha (22.2 acres) of damage. Around 80 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze, and fire engines had to be brought across the Solent from mainland UK to help the local fire service. It took 5 days to get the blaze under control, and at its height involved the use of helicopters scooping up seawater to drop on areas that could not be reached on foot. The cause of the fire has not been definitely identified, however remains of a campfire were found by Fire and Rescue Services in the vicinity, and it is thought likely that this was the source of the blaze.