A new pattern: why UK wildfires are getting worse and more frequent

This summer's 19 concurrent UK wildfires—the worst on record—reflect a climate shift, not chance. Wetter winters now trigger denser plant growth. When prolonged heatwaves arrive, they dry this vegetation into kindling. Scientists call this cycle a "firewave." The implication is stark: fire services must prepare for extended active seasons, not brief surges, as wildfire risk climbs across coming decades.