Hot weather and wildfires

Hot weather including wildfires

Whilst many of us like to enjoy the sunshine and hot weather, we should make sure we do it safely. The UK experiences occasional heatwaves, but of a lesser frequency and intensity to those seen elsewhere around the world. A record was broken in summer 2019 with a maximum temperature of 38.7C recorded in July, the summer of 2018 was the equal-warmest summer for the UK.

What is a heatwave? It is an extended period of hot weather, relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year which may be accompanied by high humidity (Met Office Website, 2022).

The Norfolk Resilience Forum (NRF) plans for a heatwave with daily temperatures of above 28C that covers most of the region for a period of 2 weeks; a number of those days will consecutively reach 33C.

What is a wildfire? The National Fire Chiefs Council define a wildfire as ‘any unwanted vegetation fire’.

What are the consequences?

Impact to transport networks due to melting tarmac and buckling of rail tracks causing disruption to daily commuting
Impacts to utilities such as water and power outages
Cancellation of large outdoor gatherings such as festivals, events and sporting events
Increase in casualties or fatalities linked to hot weather potentially due to dehydration
Air, water and land pollution
Increased risk of open space, moorland and wildfires leading to damage to land, wildlife and property.

How to report a wildfire

Stay calm
Find a safe location (away from vegetation and smoke)
If you are in driving, close all windows and vents; if you are at home keep windows and doors closed but do not lock them
Call 999 and inform us of your location – you could use a locator app such as Ordnance Survey or What3Words to help if you’re unsure
Be Prepared. Evacuating your home may be your safest option in emergency and having your families’ essentials helps when it really matters, this is why it is important to develop an household emergency plan and emergency kit.

Who is most at risk?

Those over 65
Care home or hospital residents
Very young people under 5
Those with pre-existing medical conditions
Anyone whose health, housing or economic circumstances may put them at greater risk of harm
Transient population visiting from out of County to the Broads, Coast or for events who may not be familiar with the local landscape and/or local arrangements.

When has it happened?

July 2022
- Hottest recorded day leading to Heat Health Alert Level 4 and Red Extreme Weather Warning to be issued.
- A number of wildfire and open space fires that required a significant response from Norfolk Fire.
Summer 2019
Temperatures reached 38.7C in Cambridge

Summer 2019
Summer 2018
The equal-warmest summer in the UK, the hottest day reaching 35.6C recorded in Suffolk in the July.
August 2003
Heatwave conditions experienced for 10 days, a maximum temperature of 38.5C recorded in Kent

August 2003
July 2007
Similar conditions to 2003, breaking records and resulting in the warmest month on record at that time.

How are we preparing for it?

National Heatwave Plan for England
Working with national, regional, and local partners to develop local risk assessments including the identification of those most at risk
Linked into to heat-health alert system that warns public and statutory organisations
Encouraging resilient communities who share information and work together during emergencies
Ensuring organisations have business continuity plans in place so their critical services remain running during periods of disruption.

How can you get prepared?

Preparing for hot weather

Alerts
- Sign up for weather warnings and alerts on the Met Office website or app.
Health
- Review and understand the different health services available to you if you suffer from a health related illness
- Stock up on sunscreen ensuring that it is at least sun protection factor (SPF) 30, and a 4-star UVA protection
- If you or a family member consider yourself to be vulnerable, contact your utility companies and ask to register with their priority services
Longer term solutions
- Consider investing in longer-term solutions such as external shading on windows, using pale or reflective external paints and insulated loft and cavity walls.
Get prepared
- Prepare a household emergency plan that includes details of
  
  Your important contacts
  
  Any actions you need to take
  
  Where to evacuate to if you needed to leave home
  
  Insurance details and
  
  How to turn off utilities
- Prepare a grab-bag with your household, you can find some more information on what to include by clicking on the following link: Get prepared – Norfolk Resilience Forum (norfolkprepared.gov.uk)

Preparing for wildfires

Observe your property externally
- Particularly any boundary fencing or hedges growing next to or in close proximity to fields/open ground.
- Try to keep these areas free from garden furniture, sheds or accumulated wood/waste products, children’s toys or rubbish bins
Decking & fences
- If you have decking, try not to use the area underneath for storage and remove any combustible materials/debris regularly. Where possible, keep storage of furniture to a minimum.
- Check your fences, make sure there are no gaps between overlapping panels or between you and a neighbour’s fence. Debris, such as dry leaves and embers could build up in these gaps causing a fire
- Consider replacing wooden/plastic/other combustible material fencing or gates with metal, helping to reduce a fire spread
Keep areas clear
- Keep your driveway, paths, gardens, patios and decking free from rubbish and debris to reduce available combustible sources
- Keep trees on your property trimmed back and away from the house, don’t allow branches to overhang into gutters or towards the roof
Get prepared
- Be aware of weather reports, especially during extreme conditions and avoid using barbeques or lighting bonfires in the garden to reduce risk

Remember:

Please be considerate:
- Don’t drop cigarettes or any burning item onto dry ground. Ensure they are fully extinguished even when smoking outside, don’t throw them from car windows where they may land on dry ground or grass by the roadside
- Don’t leave glass products behind when enjoying time outside, direct sunlight through glass can cause fire risk
- Don’t use barbeques in fields, open grassland, parks and forests, especially during periods of hot, dry weather. Single use BBQ’s are a significant fire risk and cannot be recycled .
- Don’t drive on dry grass/fields – your vehicle’s exhaust can reach more than 1000 degrees, avoid parking or driving your vehicle over dry grass.

Click on the get prepared button to access our Household Emergency Plan template and grab-bag checklist!

Get prepared

What to do during hot weather

Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water
Stay in the shade during the hottest part of the day – usually 11am to 3pm
Take regular rest breaks if you need to be out and about
Wear sunscreen, repeat when necessary and cover up when exposed to the sun
Eat cold foods, particularly those with high water content such as salads and fruits
Keep your living space cool by shutting curtains over exposed windows and opening them at night when it is cooler
If you’re planning visiting the water, perhaps to paddle board, make sure you let someone know where you’re going or take a friend with you.

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Keeping pets safe

Here is some advice from the RSPCA to keep your pets safe in the hot weather:

Never leave animals in cars, conservatories, outbuildings or caravans on a warm day even if for a short while,
Make sure they have access to shade and plenty of fresh water,
Keep fish tanks out of direct sunlight,
Check temperatures inside fish, reptile and amphibian tanks,
Know the signs of heatstroke.

More information: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/seasonal/summer

Helpful contacts and links

Our household emergency plan template has a useful contacts list for you to complete and adapt to your own needs, you can download it here: Get prepared – Norfolk Resilience Forum (norfolkprepared.gov.uk). Here are some flooding contacts and links to get you started:

Contact numbers

Organisation	Contact
Emergency services	999
Police (non-emergencies)	101
NHS (non-emergencies)	111
Environment Agency Floodline	0345 988 1188
Report a power cut	105
Report a gas leak	0800 111 999