A wildfire near Land's End Airport in Cornwall forced its temporary closure on Wednesday, with passengers and staff evacuated as four fire crews responded. The blaze was one of several igniting across the country, as West Midlands Fire Service declared a major incident at a fire in Stourbridge that prompted the opening of a rescue centre, and Warwickshire crews declared a major incident at Salford Priors.
The surge follows a week of intense wildfire activity that has matched last year's record total of 1,017 fires in England and Wales, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council. Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the ongoing New Forest fire a "great concern" and said he is considering a ban on disposable barbecues. At Holme Fen in Cambridgeshire, the blaze has consumed half of the 660-acre woodland entering its sixth day, with 11 appliances remaining on scene.
A hosepipe ban remains in force across Devon and Cornwall as drought now covers more than two-thirds of England.