Severe wildfire warnings issued in the South East
Eddie MitchellParts of south-east England have been warned that wildfires have an "exceptional" chance of becoming severe due to the hot weather.
Natural England says the "exceptional" rating, the highest on its Fire Severity Index (FSI), is in place for Bognor Regis, Selsey and Chichester in West Sussex on Monday and Wednesday, and Chichester alone on Thursday. The rating also covers Guildford and Godalming in Surrey on Wednesday.
The FSI evaluates how severe a wildfire could become if one were to ignite under current weather conditions.
The warning comes after firefighters tackled a string of blazes across East and West Sussex on Friday and the weekend.
A fire broke out in the woods on Devil's Dyke near Brighton on Friday before a blaze was tackled on the South Downs near Eastbourne on Saturday.
A field fire off Priors Leaze Lane in Nutbourne near Pulborough was also brought under control by firefighters on Sunday.
Natural England says a majority of the South East has a "very high" rating, the second-highest on its index, across the week.
Dave Swallow, National Fire Chiefs Council's wildfire deputy lead and lead tactical adviser, says the dry, sunny and hot conditions "significantly increase wildfire risk".
Record-breaking temperatures have led to 2026 becoming the first year to record 35C (95F) on six separate days, the Met Office said.
This year is also the first to see temperatures of 35C or higher in three calendar months, and it broke the record for most temperatures of 34C (93.2F) or higher, with nine days so far this summer.
