Wildfires have recently affected several regions across Europe, with parts of Britain experiencing drought and fires in areas such as Suffolk’s heathland, the Cairngorms, and the Peak District. While some attribute these events largely to climate change, recent data questions whether global warming alone explains the wildfire patterns observed.

Satellite figures from NASA and the Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS) indicate that the total area burned worldwide has generally been declining since 2000 and is nearly half of what it was a century ago. As of mid-2023, the global burned area was reportedly at a record low for this time of year since GWIS’s tracking began in 2012. Europe as a whole has seen approximately 3.8 million hectares burned, less than half of the average for this period. Historical records note that significant wildfires, such as those in Wisconsin and Michigan in 1871, occurred long before modern industrial activity or the widespread effects of climate change.

Despite the role of hotter and drier conditions in increasing fire risk, experts and commentators argue that management practices and policy decisions also critically influence wildfire frequency and severity. Some highlight that governments and agencies have used climate change as a convenient explanation for wildfires, potentially diverting attention from preventative measures that could reduce risks. For instance, it is noted that Britain has not invested sufficiently in infrastructure such as reservoirs to alleviate drought pressures, which currently affect multiple water authorities.

In fire-prone habitats such as Britain’s heather moorlands, the repeated use of controlled or "cool" burns has traditionally helped reduce flammable material buildup. These low-intensity fires, often conducted in winter, maintain a mosaic of vegetation types beneficial both for grazing animals and for certain bird species. Controlled burns are also credited with reducing the risk of larger, more destructive wildfires that can damage deeper levels of soil and peat.

However, government policies, influenced by environmental conservation bodies including Natural England and organizations like the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), have increasingly restricted heather burning, especially on deep peat soils. These restrictions are part of broader efforts often described as "rewilding," which emphasize restoring natural ecosystems and increasing moorland wetness through water retention measures. Critics argue that these approaches may inadvertently increase wildfire risk by allowing fuel loads to accumulate. Instances such as the Tintwistle fire in the Peak District, which spread on RSPB-managed land despite rewetting efforts, have been cited as evidence of the limitations of such strategies during drought conditions.

Natural England and researchers dispute some claims about habitat damage from controlled burns, suggesting that periodic burning can promote moss growth by allowing more light to reach the ground layer. Nevertheless, regulatory concerns and complex licensing have made it more difficult for landowners and gamekeepers to use fire management techniques effectively. This has led to tensions, with some land managers fearing prosecution for taking preventative measures, as well as concerns about reduced firefighting resources and support.

Andrew Gilruth, chief executive of the Moorland Association, has criticised the English approach to moorland management, contrasting it with Scotland’s clearer vegetation management plans. Gilruth has raised alarm over cuts to firefighter numbers and the reliance on equipment provided by gamekeepers, noting that restrictions on burning limit the justification for maintaining such resources. He described the refusal by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to modify policies on heather burning as reckless.

The debate highlights a complex intersection of climate factors, land management practices, environmental conservation policies, and resource allocation as Britain and other European countries contend with wildfire risk amid ongoing extreme weather conditions.