Wildfires burning across Britain in historic drought - driest spring in 70 years
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Britain is facing an unprecedented wildfire crisis as fires tear through forested areas in Scotland, Wales, and England, fuelled by the driest spring in nearly 70 years. The fires coincide with declining river water levels and concerns over drought conditions.
In Scotland, a large forest fire near Fauldhouse, west of Edinburgh, erupted on Saturday morning and continued burning into Sunday. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deployed around 50 firefighters, supported by a helicopter dropping water over the woodland area. Officials have issued an “extreme” wildfire risk warning through Monday, urging the public to take precautions.
Southwest Wales saw a wildfire break out on Friday evening on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate near Maerdy. Though initially controlled, the blaze reignited in several places on Saturday morning before being extinguished on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in England, a major wildfire in Dartmoor, Devon, scorched more than 1,200 acres before being contained. At its peak, crews from 13 fire stations, along with wildlife support officers and a police helicopter, battled the flames.
Britain is experiencing a record-breaking year for wildfires. According to the Global Wildfire Information System, more land had burned by the end of April than in any full year over the past decade. The risk has been exacerbated by unusually dry conditions, with England seeing its driest start to spring since 1956. The Met Office reported that April received only 56 percent of its average rainfall, while March saw just 43 percent1.
The drought crisis extends beyond Britain. The European Union’s Copernicus climate service recently upgraded Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to drought warning status. In Ireland, a six-week ban on nonessential outdoor water use was introduced last Tuesday due to sharp drops in reservoir levels.
While Britain has yet to impose similar restrictions, England’s Environment Agency has warned of a medium risk of drought this summer if rainfall remains inconsistent. Scotland is already feeling the strain, with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency reporting falling water levels in rivers across the country1.
The situation remains dire, with firefighters working tirelessly to contain the blazes. As parts of eastern Scotland endure nearly three weeks without significant rain, the forecast offers little relief, with dry and sunny weather expected in the coming days.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License
Aerial view of the Wennington wildfire, London, 19 July 2022. Image made by Harrison Healy.
Date: 19 July 2022
Source; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOWtjcWytmA – View/save archived versions on archive.org and archive.today
Author: Harrison Healey