“Extreme” wildfire warnings remain in place during the warmer weather this weekend, while firefighters battle blazes in Scotland.
The Met Office said temperatures are expected to peak at 24C in London and southeast England on Friday, which would be the hottest day of the year so far after temperatures soared to 23.6C last Friday.
But fire brigades have warned people to remain cautious as the wildfire risk remains “heightened” due to low rainfall over the last few weeks.
Scottish Fire and Rescue extended an “extreme” wildfire warning for all areas of Scotland for Friday and Saturday. Firefighters continue to tackle a fire in Glen Rosa on the Isle of Arran, following blazes in Dumfries and Glasgow earlier this week.
Deputy assistant chief officer Kenny Barbour asked the public to exercise “extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame”.
He added: "Responsible human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code."
London Fire Brigade (LFB) also urged Londoners to avoid using barbecues as the risk of wildfires heightened in the capital.
LFB assistant commissioner Thomas Goodall said: “The risk of wildfires in London currently is heightened and this risk increases with every day that passes without rainfall.”
Earlier this week, firefighters also battled blazes in Northern Ireland. A Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said fire crews mobilised to 41 wildfire calls and “firefighters continued to respond to wildfire incidents overnight”.
At least 286 wildfires have hit the UK so far this year, more than 100 above the number recorded in the same period in 2022 - a year which saw record-breaking temperatures and unprecedented wildfire activity.
LFB said it had seen a 48 per cent increase in calls last weekend when compared with the same weekend in 2024.
Dan Stroud, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “The average for this time of year is around 13C, so it’s going to be about 10C above average on Friday.
“We’ve got high pressure at the moment which effectively acts like a force field.
“It actually keeps fronts and clouds largely at bay and keeps conditions settled and dry underneath the area of high pressure.”
The National Fire Chiefs Council warned over the weekend that it needs “long-term and sustained investment” to cope with climate change and “increased demand” on its services.
Mr Goodall said: “A minority of the fires we’ve attended recently are believed to have been started deliberately.
“What might seem like harmless fun has the ability to turn into something much more serious, particularly given current weather conditions.
“We know that people will undoubtedly want to be out enjoying the warm sunshine, particularly as we head into the weekend.
“But we’re asking Londoners to behave responsibly to help reduce the risk of fires starting in the first place.”
He continued: “Over the Easter holidays, parents should ensure that their children understand the fire risks to help protect our open spaces.
“We also urge Londoners to take steps to ensure they are not inadvertently starting a fire.
“They can do this by not using barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable ones, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully.”
The UK saw a record-breaking March in terms of sunshine and dry spells. England enjoyed its sunniest March since records began in 1910, with many individual counties topping their sunshine duration records. It was the UK’s third sunniest March on record and Wales’ second.
Rainfall fell below average as the UK recorded just 43 per cent of its average rainfall for the month.
