England and Wales have seen a record breaking number of wildfires so far in 2026, matching the amount in the UK in the entirety of last year, it has been confirmed. Some 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales so far in 2026, the same as the record-breaking total for the whole of last year, the National Fire Chiefs Council said. Between January 1 and August 12 last year, 869 wildfires had been recorded, in what was then the worst year on record. Over the same period in 2022, also one of the worst years for wildfires, the figure was 843. TRENDING Stories Videos Your SayNFCC, who collected the data, has warned of the increased risks climate change has had on wildfires in the UK.