Over the last week wildfires have scorched and blackened hillsides, forestry, and homes in cities and in the countryside. From France, where tens of thousands have been evacuated from the southwestern Gironde region, to London where firefighters had their busiest day since World War Two, to the coast of Wales few places have escaped.
Retired fire investigation officer David Swan has looked closely at what started the fire at Newgale in Pembrokeshire. With heatwaves like this forecast ever more frequently as climate change causes extreme weather his findings have lessons for all of us. We also spoke to fire experts who fear that the changing weather will not only make fires more frequent but more threatening to lives, livelihoods, and far greater areas than ever before.
The charred remains of the hillside behind Newgale give the best indication of how this particular started, said Mr Swan. And it likely points to "vile ingrates". The Mid and West Wales fire service haven't yet confirmed the cause. The fire broke out at around midday on July 17, Mr Swan explained, and took fire crews around three hours to get it to a state where it could be left safely. It spread across the top of the cliff driven by wind, fire loading, and aspect (the shape of the land).
