958 wildfires in Hampshire in 2022 - nearly double the figure from 2020
Fire services dealt with nearly 25,000 wildfires in June, July and August this year, almost four times the number in summer 2021, figures show
Some forces tackled more than 50 wildfires a day at the peak of the heatwaves, which also saw droughts declared in many areas and temperatures reach a record-breaking 40C.
Fire chiefs said the figures showed how staff were "increasingly being challenged by new extremes of weather as our climate changes", while praising the dedication and bravery of officers in tackling unprecedented conditions.
At least 24,316 wildfires were recorded by fire services in England from June to August, according to data obtained by the PA news agency through freedom of information requests.
This is almost four times the 6,213 wildfires in the equivalent period in 2021, and around two and a half times the 9,369 for June-August 2020.
More than 800 wildfires were recorded on July 19, the day temperatures rose above 40C in the UK for the first time to peak at 40.3C at Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
There were further spikes in wildfires in August, with more than 600 recorded each day from August 11 to 14 as temperatures reached the mid-30s.
Overall there were more than 10,000 wildfire incidents across England in both July and August.
The true figure is likely to be higher, as five of the 44 fire services in England did not supply data, while two services - Essex and Northumberland - had only partial data for August.
A sequence of heatwaves led to England experiencing the driest July since 1935 and the joint warmest summer on record.
Hampshire also recorded a sharp jump in incidents this summer, with 958 wildfires - five times the number for 2021 and nearly double the figure from 2020.
Area manager Jason Avery said the summer was "an exceptionally busy time for all of our teams", adding: "We are immensely proud of the commitment, dedication and professionalism they showed, and the part they played in protecting our communities.
"Despite a very high number of challenging and demanding incidents, we were able to respond to every incident we were called to, including those over the border, where we provided support to our fire and rescue service partners."
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service tackled 200 more wildfires at the height of the summer compared to the previous year.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s group manager, Stuart Gillion, said: “Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service had an incredibly busy summer due to the exceptionally warm weather.
“The continuous lack of rain resulted in a red fire severity alert being issued as well as an amber weather warning for extreme heat from the Met Office – the combination of both meant the ground was tinder dry, and even the smallest of fires could spread far more quickly than usual.
“Fires in the open were up by 182 per cent on July 2021, with 339 fires attended compared to 120 last year. Additionally, from 1 to 10 August, we attended 180 fires in the open compared to just 34 such incidents in the same period last year – an unprecedented increase of over 429 per cent.
One of the most devastating fires hit Wennington in east London on July 19, which destroyed two rows of terraced houses, four other homes, outbuildings, garages, stables and cars and affected 40 hectares of grassland.
Another spell of blistering heat in mid-August saw wildfires in locations as far apart as Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Dorset, Essex and Devon.
The run of heatwaves, along with above-average temperatures in every month except December, means 2022 will be the UK's warmest year on record, the Met Office said earlier this week.
The figures compiled by PA cover all outdoor fires recorded in the category of grassland, woodland and crops.
They include fires on heathland and moorland; in fields, hedgerows and allotments; and by the side of roads, rivers and railways.