Fire chiefs warn of barbecue wildfire risk amid amber heat alerts in England

Concerns raised about lighting outdoor fires after more than 500 blazes in the UK this year

Fire chiefs have issued a warning over outdoor fires and barbecues after a sevenfold increase in UK wildfires, as amber heat alerts were issued across England before what is expected to be a scorching weekend.

The UK has already experienced more than 500 wildfires this year, with incidents up 717% compared with the same period in 2024.