25/05/2026
⚠️🔥 HIGH WILDFIRE RISK ACROSS CORNWALL 🔥⚠️
Good morning everyone,
The sun is shining, the skies are that hazy blue colour again thanks to Saharan dust high up in the atmosphere, and many people will understandably be heading out today to enjoy the beaches, moorland walks, coast paths, beer gardens and countryside.
But while the weather may look absolutely beautiful outside today, there is something important we all need to keep in mind…
⚠️ The wildfire risk across Cornwall is currently MODERATE TO HIGH ⚠️
And sadly, this sort of weather is exactly the kind of setup that can allow fires to start and spread surprisingly quickly.
Over the last few weeks, many areas of grass, gorse, heathland and undergrowth have been drying out steadily, and now with temperatures climbing well into the mid to high 20s, low humidity levels, strong sunshine, dry vegetation and occasional breezy conditions, it only takes one small spark to potentially cause a major fire.
People often think wildfire risk is only something countries like Spain, Portugal or Greece deal with… but Cornwall can and does see grass fires and heath fires during hot dry spells too.
In fact, gorse bushes are incredibly flammable. Once they ignite they can burn fast, hot and unpredictably, especially on hillsides or cliffs where winds can suddenly fan the flames.
And yes… before anyone asks… tossing a cigarette end out of the car window because “it’ll be fine” is about as sensible as storing fireworks in an air fryer.
Things to PLEASE avoid today:
Disposable BBQs on grassland or cliffs, Campfires or fire pits, Throwing cigarette ends anywhere outdoors
Parking cars on very dry grass
Leaving glass bottles behind in nature
Using machinery that could create sparks near dry vegetation
Even something as simple as a hot exhaust pipe underneath a parked car can ignite very dry grass in this sort of weather.
The combination of heat, dry ground and occasional breeze means any fire that starts today could spread faster than people realise.
And unfortunately, Cornwall’s narrow lanes, rural terrain and remote moorland areas can make firefighting incredibly difficult once a blaze gets going.
Please also remember:
If you spot smoke or a fire starting anywhere, report it immediately by calling 999 and asking for the Fire Service.
Weather-wise today itself is looking absolutely stunning with plenty of sunshine, hazy skies and temperatures widely climbing into the mid to high 20s, with a few places possibly nudging close to 30°C again this afternoon.
UV levels remain HIGH too, so between the wildfire risk, sunburn risk, pollen and Saharan dust, the atmosphere today is basically operating on “extreme summer mode.”
Smudge has already declared the garden “too crispy for zoomies,” while Gus appears to be lying upside down in the hallway like a melted croissant refusing to move until September.
Please enjoy the sunshine responsibly everyone and help protect Cornwall’s countryside, wildlife and emergency services during this hot spell.
Kind regards
KWT Dave
