Seven areas in central, eastern and southern England have been designated as drought zones by the Environment Agency. Phil Garrigan, chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), said: "More than 200 wildfires in just 12 days shows how quickly the risk can escalate when hot, dry conditions take hold. (Image: Lucy Taylor)Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said: "The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it. The last time a drought was officially declared in Suffolk was 2022, when there was a prolonged period of with little rain between March and August. This lead to an increase in water usage and a drought plans were declared by 17 of the 18 water companies in the UK.