Climate change: 500 more wildfires recorded in UK this year than all of 2021
August 15, 2022, 11:53 am

Climate change: 500 more wildfires recorded in UK this year than all of 2021

The National Fire Chiefs Council said firefighters dealt with an "unprecedented level of wildfires" - Photo. BBC via Getty Images

The UK has recorded 500 more wildfires this year than the whole of 2021, the Andolu Agency reported.

Head of the National Fire Chiefs Council, told BBC Radio 4 on Sunday (August 14) said that a total of 745 wildfires have so far been recorded in 2022 compared to 247 in the whole of 2021 – an increase of more than 200%.

Soaring temperatures across the country have created conditions that are “perfect at the moment for wildfires,” Mark Hardingham said.

Authorities recorded 150 wildfires in the past week alone, after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a yellow heat-health warning over rising temperatures that touched 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

Hardingham said: “They are physically exhausting and demanding incidents to deal with. Not only are you turning up as a firefighter in extreme, high temperatures, but you’re wearing your firefighter clothing."

UK Met Office: The UK experiences occasional heatwaves but of a lesser frequency and intensity of those seen elsewhere globally - Photo. Pixabay

“Once you’ve dealt with that fire, more often than not you’re picking up another call to go to the next fire.”

The UKHSA alert came in tandem with a growing hosepipe ban by water companies across the country.

Climate change: UK cities need to prepare for future wildfires, say fire chiefs

Under the emergency measure, people are not allowed to use hosepipes to water gardens or plants, clean cars, patios, walls and windows, or fill up pools and ponds, with hefty fines for violations.

On Friday (August 12), the Environment Agency declared an official drought in eight parts of England after a prolonged heat wave and dry weather conditions with no rainfall in the month of August.

Heatwave in Britain leads to boom in demand for ice cram makers

Across the UK, rivers and reservoirs have dried up and water tanks have been sent to a number of small villages where reservoirs are nearly empty.

It is worthy to noted that July was the UK’s hottest month since records began in 1836 as temperatures surged above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), making it warmer than 98% of all countries in the world.

Source: aa

Competition launched to de-Sovietize Odesa’s Opera Theatre Square China's Yangtze river shrinks as heatwave and drought threaten crops

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”