SocietyLives ‘will be lost’ unless UK does more to combat wildfires, experts warn

Experts warn that people will die unless the UK does more to prepare for wildfires. A long, hot and dry summer created tinderbox conditions and produced England and Wales’ worst wildfire season on record in 2026, with 1,350 fires, dozens of homes damaged or destroyed, vast areas burned and one death. Government measures included a disposable barbecue ban, mobile alerts and £97m in funding.