The effects of drought conditions in the UK are becoming increasingly clear, reports Neil Connery More grass fires have broken out amid the weekend’s dry and dreary conditions. Among the fires on Saturday was a blaze in Camborne, Cornwall. Just after 3pm, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said eight fire engines were trying to control the blaze on Kerrier Way. The risk of fires is high as the UK has been extremely dry for a long time and vegetation has been “baked dry”, said Dan Stroud of the Met Office. People play football on dry grass in Parker’s Piece in Cambridge as drought has been declared in parts of England. Credit: Joe Giddens/PA An orange heat warning is in place for most of England and Wales, where temperatures reached a high of 34.9 degrees on Saturday. In the capital, where record-breaking heat in July sparked a series of devastating fires, 70 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze in Enfield. An area measuring around 900 meters by 600 meters was set on fire on Saturday, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said. The fire produced a lot of smoke over the M25 between junctions 25 and 26, he added, warning: “The smallest of sparks can start a fire that could cause destruction.” In Nottinghamshire, police are appealing for information after a large fire in Mansfield. People walk on dry cracked earth at Baitings Reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, where water levels are significantly low. Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Police said a field, a nearby house and several vehicles were damaged by the flames. “This incident should serve as a reminder to everyone about the dangers of setting fires in grasslands, especially in warm weather such as we are experiencing this weekend,” said Sergeant Joseph Hall of Nottinghamshire Police. In Dorset, a crew of firefighters worked through the night to bring a blaze in Studland under control, which is believed to have been started by a disposable barbecue. Dorset Police said on Saturday afternoon firefighters discovered a piece of unexploded ordnance, believed to date from the Second World War, on the burnt moor. It is understood that no injuries were reported in any of the aforementioned fires. Following a spate of drownings during last month’s heatwave, South Yorkshire Police said a body was found on Saturday after a man got into difficulty in a lake. Emergency services responded to reports that a man in his 20s was in trouble in Lakeside, Doncaster. On Sunday, a yellow storm warning will be in place from midday on Sunday until 6am on Monday for most of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Want a quick and special update on the biggest news? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out what you need to know This warning means there is a “slight chance” of flooding in these nations and the possibility of power outages. The Met Office’s orange heat warning means heat-related illnesses including sunburn and heat exhaustion are “likely” in the general population and delays to public transport are “probable”. An official drought was declared in eight areas of England on Friday by the National Drought Group (NDG), which is made up of representatives from the government, water companies, the Environment Agency (EA) and others. England’s drought could continue into next year, according to EA. John Curtin, executive director of regional operations at EA, said that after the driest summer in 50 years, it would take “weeks of rain” to replenish water sources. The announcement could lead to more measures, such as banning pipes, however, the EA has reassured the public that key water supplies are safe. Eight of the 14 areas designated by the EA have now moved into ‘drought’, the second stage, including Devon and Cornwall, Solent and South Downs, Kent and South London, Herts and North London, East Anglia, Thames, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire and East Midlands. Three water companies – Welsh Water, Southern Water and South East Water – have all imposed pipe bans, while Yorkshire Water has announced a ban will start on August 26 and Thames Water is planning one in the coming weeks.
