UK Hits 38.1C as Wildfires Destroy Homes and Trigger National Emergency Alert

The UK experienced its hottest day of 2026 on Thursday, August 13, with temperatures reaching 38.1C (100F) at Kew Gardens in west London. As the mercury soared during the country’s fifth heatwave, major wildfires swept across the West Midlands, destroying 19 homes in Stourbridge and forcing thousands to evacuate. The government issued a rare national emergency alert to millions of mobile phones warning of a very high wildfire risk, marking the most extensive use of the system to date.

Record heat and extreme weather warnings in place

The UK’s provisional temperature of 38.1C on August 13 marks the second time the country has reached 38C in 2026, matching a record only previously achieved in 2022. An amber extreme heat warning is in effect until 23:59 BST on August 14 across eastern England, London, the south-east, the Midlands, north-west England, south-west England, and parts of Yorkshire and Humber. The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat health alerts across all of England, warning of significant impacts on health and social care services, including a rise in deaths among those aged 65 and over or with existing health conditions.

West Midlands fires destroy homes and injure firefighters

In Stourbridge, a grass fire near the golf club spread across more than 500 acres on Thursday afternoon, destroying 19 houses and damaging 18 more. West Midlands Fire Service deployed more than 100 firefighters to tackle the blaze, with one firefighter taken to hospital and discharged, and five others suffering minor injuries including smoke inhalation. A total of 54 patients were treated by paramedics and 19 were taken to hospital across the region. West Midlands Fire Service chief Simon Tuhill said the conditions were “some of the most challenging” he had seen in 28 years of service, and residents were warned they could be away from their homes for days.

National emergency alert and disposable barbecue ban

On Friday evening, the government sent an emergency alert to mobile phones across England and Wales warning of a very high risk of wildfires nationally. The message urged residents, landowners, and visitors not to undertake any activity that could cause a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators, or fireworks. In response, the government has temporarily banned the sale of disposable barbecues, citing their role in causing “a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months.” Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the country as like “a tinderbox” as fire crews tackled multiple blazes across England and Wales.

Drought and wildfire records across the UK and Europe

England and Wales have recorded 1,017 wildfires in 2026, matching last year’s record. Almost three-quarters of England (71.3%) is now experiencing a flash drought, affecting 45 million people, with over 27 million living under water use restrictions. The Met Office has said 2026 is on course to be the UK’s hottest summer since records began, with the year likely to be the first in which the country has recorded four separate days with temperatures of 36C or above. Across Europe, Spain has broken its burned area record for this time of year, while France has recorded 17 days of extreme heat, one of the longest periods ever, with burned areas already surpassing any full year on record by mid-July.

Transport disruption and wider impact

Train services on Snow Hill routes have been disrupted by the Stourbridge fire spreading to nearby embankments, with services expected to remain affected over the weekend. Rail replacement buses are operating between Stourbridge and Kidderminster. In Wales, a major incident was declared near Llandovery in Carmarthenshire after dozens of homes were evacuated and roads closed. In Hampshire, firefighters have spent a sixth day tackling a wildfire in the New Forest that broke out on Sunday.

Final Thoughts

With 38.1C recorded as the UK’s hottest day of 2026 and wildfires destroying homes across the West Midlands, the government has declared a national emergency. The combination of record heat, severe drought affecting 45 million people, and 1,017 wildfires this year signals an unprecedented crisis requiring immediate action on fire prevention and water management.

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