Fears of bigger and more dangerous wildfires

Parts of Surrey could face more dangerous wildfires similar to those seen in the Mediterranean and Los Angeles if a "perfect storm" of circumstances was to happen, a wildlife trust boss has warned.

Several fires have already hit parts of Surrey so far this year, including Hankley Common near Godalming and Blackheath Common near Guildford.

James Herd, director of reserve management at Surrey Wildlife Trust, says wildfires are becoming more frequent, adding he fears fire crews could soon have to choose which blazes to fight if several were to happen at the same time.

"You can argue that we have been fortunate so far," he says.

"Within a decade or two the climate we have in the Mediterranean is going to be our circumstance. If we had a number of large sites go up in smoke in close proximity at the same time then we could have a problem.

"That perfect storm scenario hasn't materialised yet, but we have had a lot of warnings. It's something that genuinely worries me."

Extreme wildfire activity has more than doubled over a 21-year period, and human activities are the main cause, according to Nasa.

Wildfires were particularly prevalent across Greece and Southern Europe in the summer of 2025 following a heatwave in the region.

The fires followed the destruction on the west coast of America in January 2025, where the Palisades region of Los Angeles, California was engulfed in flames.

Herd, who has worked at the wildlife trust for 17 years, says wildfires can damage large swathes of land in Surrey.

The fires particularly affect birds and other animals at this time of year when chicks are unable to fly away and flee the flames, he says.

In 2022, more than 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of the 5,000 hectares (12,355) managed by the trust was damaged by wildfires, he added.

Risks of wildfires are particularly high at the moment due to an increase in temperatures, as well as spells of dry weather.

The Met Office uses a system called the Fire Severity Index (FSI) to gauge the risk of a wildfire spreading if it were to ignite, and it maps which areas of the UK are vulnerable at any given time.

In Surrey, parts of the county are currently described as being at "very high" risk of wildfires - the second highest category on the index.

Guidelines from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service suggest swapping BBQs, camping stoves and open fires for picnics in a bid to prevent wildfires, and disposing of any smoking materials properly.

The service also recommends taking litter home as bottles and glass can magnify the power of sun and start fires.

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