‘Exceptional risk’ wildfires could sweep across Britain this weekend
The TelegraphWildfires threaten to sweep across parts of the country this weekend after ministers were told of an “unprecedented” risk to homes and the countryside. Fire chiefs warned government officials during an emergency meeting on Wednesday that destructive blazes are likely to spread into residential areas in the coming days, fuelled by bone-dry conditions and a strong easterly wind. The Met Office has raised the Fire Severity Index, which assesses how easily a blaze could spread, to the highest, “exceptional” level for a stretch of southern England from Nottingham to parts of Sussex and as far West as Abergavenny this Sunday, with temperatures expected to reach 36C. Dozens of homes were destroyed in wildfires during last month’s record heat, prompting insurance claims worth more than £1.2million to one major home insurer.
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