News and Views...

Wildfire damage does not end when the flames are extinguished. Bangor University scientists are investigating how this summer’s fires have affected UK soils, water, biodiversity and carbon stores — and how long damaged landscapes take to recover.

Wildfires are no longer something Britain can regard primarily as a problem for hotter parts of the world. Record-breaking wildfire activity in 2025 has been followed by another summer of serious concern, with the UK Government issuing an Emergency Alert across England and Wales in August 2026 warning of a “very high risk of wildfires nationally”. As hotter, drier conditions create more periods of dangerous fire weather, Wildfire Watch has launched to bring together information about wildfire activity across the UK.