England and Wales have experienced a record year for wildfires, with 1,017 infernos recorded so far, matching the total for the entirety of 2025, previously the worst year on record. As temperatures are forecast to reach 38C, campaigners are attributing the surge in fires to the policies of the Labour government, suggesting they have transformed parts of the countryside into fire hazards.
Critics argue that the government's rewilding strategy, which allows natural processes to occur with minimal human intervention, has led to a significant buildup of dry vegetation. This accumulation, they contend, is highly flammable and primes the landscape for ignition during heatwaves.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) maintains that its environmental policies are designed as long-term solutions. However, the current wildfire season has intensified scrutiny on these approaches amidst escalating weather concerns.