Fire severity risk raised to 'exceptional' as four-day amber alert begins

One senior firefighter said he "can't remember a summer like this" for heat-related fires in his entire 32-year career.

Screenshot taken with permission from Sky Cam East of a fire on Rushmore Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk. Fire appliances from Ipswich East, Woolbridge, Princes Street, Holbrook and Needham Market were mobilised to deal with the fire.
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The risk of how severe fires could become across parts of England and Wales has been raised to "exceptional" - the highest it can be - as a four-day amber weather warning comes into force.

The top level on the fire severity index applies to much of southern England, and reaches as far west as Abergavenny in Wales, for this coming Sunday.

The index is an assessment of how severe a fire could become if one were to start, not the risk of fires occurring.

Fire severity index is set to peak on Sunday. Pic: Met Office
Image: The fire severity index is set to peak on Sunday. Pic: Met Office

The Met Office has issued an amber heat warning running between Thursday and Sunday, and temperatures between those days could peak at 36C.

South East, Southern and Welsh Water have all announced hosepipe bans for customers in areas they supply.

Thames Water has signalled it will also introduce a ban in the coming weeks as the hot, parched summer continues to take its toll.

There have also been repeated warnings about the impact on agriculture, rivers and wildlife.

Amber warning, what to expect:

Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat

The wider population is likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat related illnesses

Some changes in working practices and daily routines, likely to be required

An increased chance that some heat-sensitive systems and equipment may fail

More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes, rivers and other beauty spots, leading to an increased risk of water safety and fire-related incidents

Some delays to road, rail and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays

Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: "The risk [of fires] is very high across much of central, southern and eastern England.

"Going into Friday and the weekend, it starts to increase further, going into the highest category of exceptional risk."

Read more:
What are the rules on hosepipe bans?

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The UK braces for the next stifling few days

Worst summer for fires in three decades

Mark Hardingham, the chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, told The Telegraph he "can't remember a summer like this" in his entire 32-year career.

"We're not going to see temperatures as hot as we saw three weeks ago, but that doesn't matter because the ground couldn't get any drier than it already is," he said.

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There is also a heat health alert in place from the UK Health Security Agency, with experts advising people to look out for those who are older or with existing health conditions, as well as young children.

The latest analysis from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology has warned low or even exceptionally low river flows and groundwater levels are likely to continue for the next three months in southern England and Wales.

A man stands in the basin of Grafham Water near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, where water is receding during the drought. Britain is braced for another heatwave that will last longer than July's record-breaking hot spell, with highs of up to 35C expected next week. Picture date: Monday August 8,
Image: Water is severely receding at Grafham Water near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire

Rain relief?

Mr Petagna said rain could be on the horizon early next week.

"There are signs that we could get some rain next week, but details at the moment are uncertain," he said.

He added the UK needs "a few weeks" of light rain to water the ground.

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"What we really need is a few weeks of light rain to soak into the ground," he said.

"Thunderstorms are more likely to cause some flooding issues because the ground is hard, the water can't sink in."