Wildfire safety: how to prepare, stay safe and recover

Is there a wildfire near me?

If you’re worried about a wildfire or grassfire near you, check updates from your local Fire and Rescue Service, local authority and the Met Office. 

If you see smoke or flames, and believe a wildfire is active, call 999 immediately. 

Quick checklist, if you think there’s a wildfire near you:  

• Check local emergency updates  
• Stay away from affected areas  
• Close doors and windows if smoke is present  
• Prepare to leave if advised  
• Follow evacuation instructions immediately  
• Call 999 if the fire has not been reported 

Preparing for wildfires in the UK

During the summer months the risk of wildfires breaking out increase. It’s important to familiarise yourself with advice to keep safe from the dangers of wildfires and fires in the open.

• Be aware. If temperatures have been high and it hasn't rained for a prolonged period, the chances of wildfires are increased.
• Be careful. Many wildfires in the UK are sparked by human activity. These will either be leisure activities or deliberate acts. They are often people unaware of the risks associated with fires, especially wildfires.
• Make sure to monitor reports of wildfires in your area through the media or via your local emergency services.
• Have an escape plan ready and make sure you're prepared for an emergency to leave quickly.
• Make sure your family members (or members of staff know what to do and where to assemble in the event of a wildfire. This includes how to care for pets and domestic animals
• If you live in a rural area, make sure your home name or number is clearly visible from the road or main access point so firefighters can easily locate your address and you always have your car charged or with plenty of fuel if you have to leave quickly.
• The Fire Severity Index map is a tool showing how severe a fire could become should one start in your area.

Preventing wildfires: being responsible during hot weather

Wildfires in the UK are often caused accidentally by human activity. Take simple steps during hot and dry weather to reduce the risk of a fire starting and spreading.

The London Fire Brigade gives the following advice to prevent a wildfire: 

Smoking safely during hot weather

• Don’t drop cigarettes or anything that is burning on dry ground
• Don’t drop cigarettes out of car windows, they may land on dry grass by the roadside

Barbecues and campfires

• Avoid having barbecues in parks and public spaces
• Never leave campfires or barbecues unattended and extinguish them properly after you have finished using them
• Position your barbecue on level ground and keep it well away from anything that may catch fire.
• Do not barbecue on balconies, the wind may carry smouldering ash towards nearby grassland If you’re barbecuing near dry grass have a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergency use
• Be aware that children, animals, balls, or anything else may knock over barbecues, increasing the risk of grass fires, especially when in busy parks or public spaces

Dispose of glass bottles and litter

• Dispose of glass bottles properly. Sunlight can become focused as it shines through the glass, starting fires
• Keep children away from lighters and matches.

Reduce fire risks at home

Regularly inspect your home and property for fire hazards

• Look out for exposed firewood, leaf and brush clutter, and dead and overhanging branches
• Clear flammable debris – such as dead leaves – from rain gutters
• Check for spaces between roof tiles or within your home where burning embers could become lodged
• Make sure that flammable substances (including fertilisers and pesticides) are safely stored
• Check that all fire exits and property exit routes are clear

What should I do if I see a wildfire?

If you see a wildfire, follow this advice from the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue service: 

If you see a wildfire and are outside:

• Stay calm
• Ensure you are in a safe location (away from vegetation and smoke)
• If you are in your car, close all windows and vents
• Call 999 immediately. Tell the fire control the location, size, and any relevant information including the address, OS, or What3Words location.

If you are at home:

• Stay calm
• Put yourself in a place of safety - do not try to put out the fire yourself
• Keep doors and windows closed but unlocked
• Call 999 and inform us of your location. Provide us with as much detail as possible. Including the address, OS or What3Words location.
• Let us know the best access point to get to the property. If safe to do so, stand by the access point and speak to fire crews when they arrive.

When driving through wildfire smoke:

A Public Health Wales spokesperson has given the following advice. Motorists who have to travel through the smoke should:

• Keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning, and keep their air vents closed
• Smoke can irritate air passages, skin, and eyes, resulting in coughing and wheezing, breathlessness, and chest pain
• Individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, such as asthma, should carry any necessary medication or inhalers with them at all times and seek medical advice if their symptoms worsen by contacting their GP or NHS 111.

Evacuation advice

When to leave

If you are advised to evacuate, or if you think you are in danger, evacuate immediately. Don't wait to be told to evacuate. A wildfire may spread too fast for officials to issue evacuation orders.

If you are not trained and equipped to fight a wildfire, do not put your life at risk. Leave right away: delay could be deadly.

Leaving safely

Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your family first. It’s best not to fight the fire yourself - remember that normal water pressure may not be available. If you do have time, you can follow these steps: 

• Turn off the gas at the meter 
• Close the valves on propane tanks 
• Open fireplace dampers 
• Close windows, vents, doors, blinds, and non-combustible window coverings 
• Use a wet cloth to block any other openings 
• Remove lightweight or combustible window coverings 
• Move combustible furniture to the centre of the home, away from windows and doors. Place in a pond or body of water, any valuables that will not be damaged by water. 
• Remove combustible items from around the home 
• Connect hoses to outside taps 

Protecting yourself 

• Wear sturdy shoes, long cotton or woollen trousers, long-sleeved shirts, and gloves 
• Carry a damp handkerchief to protect your face 
• Carry wet towels to cover your head or bare skin or to wrap your feet, in case you need to run through a small area of fire 

Pets and livestock

If you cannot take your animals with you, take the following precautions:

• If you have livestock or horses, sweep hay and other combustible feed away from the barn or stable
• Close windows and doors to prevent embers from entering buildings
• Consider opening barn doors and corrals to let animals escape
• Confine pets and service animals to one room
• If you are evacuating with animals, leave early

If you are trapped by a wildfire or grassfire

If you are trapped by a wildfire or grassfire you will not be able to outrun it. Instead, remember the following advice:

• Head for a body of water nearby and safely get into the water
• If there is no body of water nearby, look for shelter in a cleared area among a bed of rocks 
• Lie flat, face down, and cover your body with soil 
• Breathe air close to the ground 

What to do after a wildfire

• Look out for smouldering hot spots or items, and be careful they don’t reignite
• Beware of hazards such as burnt trees and power poles or fallen wires and ash pits
• Seek permission from the fire brigade before re-entering the area
• Check for damage and stay out of damaged buildings.
• After a wildfire, take precautions while cleaning your property
• Keep children away from clean-up sites
• Use rubber gloves when cleaning

Check weather warnings from the Met Office

• Weather warnings tracker

How to support communities at risk of wildfires

As well as learning how to prevent fires and being prepared should an emergency happen, you can also support your community by: 

• Donating to help us prepare for emergencies, respond when wildfires strike and support people as they recover.
• Volunteering to help strengthen community resilience and provide support before, during and after emergencies.