Hereford and Worcester fire service urging people to be responsible when out due to risk of potential wildfires

It's after England saw its sunniest March on record according to the Met Office

Author: Elliot BurrowPublished 8th Apr 2025

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service are urging people to take extra when heading outside and are being warned of an increased risk of potential wildfires in the area.

It's as the warmer weather continues, after England saw its sunniest March on record and its sixth driest March since records began in 1836, according to the Met Office.

David Swallow is the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) lead wildfire tactical advisor and group commander for Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, he says they're used to seeing a rise in wildfires across the UK this time of year.

He said: "What we see in spring is we've got a lot of dead vegetation from the winter, so last year's vegetation that's died off over the winter which then dries out really quickly when we get periods like we've got at the moment.

"In the the UK we sort of sees two peaks, one in spring and one in summer and what we're seeing at the moment is just that the dry spell has been more prolonged than it usually is.

"The advice really is just be careful while you're out there, don't use anything that's got an open flame, be careful when you're discarding rubbish and cigarettes, don't pack a portable BBQ, our usual kind of safety messages."

More advice on wildfires can be found on the NFCC website.

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