The three bank holidays in May have been unusual and probably unique. Unfortunately, what is becoming increasingly clear and predictable is that May is now almost the official start of the summer wildfire season. Large fires are already breaking out in the more rural environments in Wales, Scotland and England due to what is increasingly becoming non-exceptional weather conditions including heavy rainfall over the winter, then short periods of intense heat leading to the outbreaks of fire across the country. The start of the 2023 wildfire season has already begun, bringing with it the cycle of long duration incidents, exhausted and depleted ranks of firefighters trooping across the downs, dales and valleys of what used to be termed a temperate, maritime climate country. Changing weather patterns and global warming - whether the result of geological, environmental or man-made - is starting to create a seasonal layer over and above the 'bread and butter' map of Fire and Rescue Service activity.
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