Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Some 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year, according to data shared by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), the same as last year’s record-breaking total. The figures come as Andy Burnham is set to chair an emergency Cobra committee later on Wednesday in response to a prolonged spell of exceptionally hot and dry weather. “But as climate change brings more frequent periods of hot, dry weather, the conditions for wildfires are becoming more dangerous, increasing their scale and intensity. “While over 1,000 wildfires have been recorded so far this year, the incident numbers alone do not tell the full story.