Record number of serious outdoor fires tackled in England in summer 2022

Soaring temperatures meant number of naturally occurring wildfires was also highest on record

Fire crews attended a record number of serious outdoor blazes in England in summer 2022 as scorching temperatures caused the number of naturally occurring wildfires to soar.

Figures released by the Home Office show there were 4,017 serious outdoor fires between July and September, during the period of record summer temperatures - almost three times as many as in the same period in 2021.