Kent wildfires: Environment expert explains why wildfires are tearing through Kent at alarming rate

Wildfires have been breaking out left, right and centre across Kent in the last mont. At least six fires have torn through fields and land across the county since the beginning of July.

And now an environmental expert has warned that Kent’s wildfires are worse than ever before. In what has been one of the driest summers on record, Kent only saw eight per cent of average rainfall levels, with an average of only 5.0mm of rain in the south east during this time. These issues have only been exacerbated by record high temperatures across the county, with some parts of Kent having seen the mercury rise to 40C highs during the recent heatwaves.

In fact, the Met Office has reported that mean temperatures in the UK have been higher than average for every month of the year thus far. July 2022 has also been noted as the driest July for England since 1935, with the south east facing the brunt of it as reservoirs dry up and hosepipe bans are imposed.

Read more: Pictures show water level at Kent reservoir looking ‘so low’ as ban imposed

With these details in mind, it is no surprise that the frequency of wildfires in the Garden of England has been noticeably high. A huge fire has broken out in a field in Swanley, near the M25 this evening (August 4).

Just last night (August 3), a huge blaze was tackled on Dartford Heath and the day prior a grass fire tore through fields in Orpington.

Perhaps the most devastating incidents of the summer thus far were the three wildfires that occurred on the same day near the A2 in Dartford earlier in July. These fires totally levelled large sections of greenery in the area that had dried up amid the extreme weather conditions.

Light has now been shed on why these fires are becoming not only more frequent, but more damaging within Kent. Dr Rajindra Puri is a senior lecturer in Environmental Anthropology for the University of Kent, and explains why these trends have been seen in our county.



Dr Rajindra Puri has explained why such a trend has been seen in Kent
Dr Rajindra Puri has explained why such a trend has been seen in Kent

He begins: “What’s really changed now is the fire danger, the likelihood that an ignition event is going to lead to a wildfire. The fire danger is something we need to focus on because that is what climate change is causing.

“It’s causing a greater number of days every year where we have a very high risk of fire spreading and it’s about the fuel loading; the amount of material that is available to be burnt, how distributed it is and how dry it is. If we have continuously dry days then all of that material gets very friable and up it goes in flames very easily.

“We always get fires, but since the last decade or so, the number of days of fire danger has increased and the likelihood of fires is increasing – we’ve had fires in 2011, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 to now.” Dr Puri goes on to explain how climate change is impacting Kent specifically and why certain fires grew to the lengths they did.



Dr Rajindra Puri explains that the fire danger in Kent has increased this summer as a result of several factors relating to climate change

He continues: “If we look at Kent in particular, it’s got a long history of agriculture and land management, and that really hasn’t changed so much, it’s really the increased temperatures, lower humidity and lower days of rainfall that are drying out the landscapes. You look at those fires along the A2, that area isn’t managed as intensely as farmland.

“Areas that are likely to build up dry fuel that can burn are going to have to be more carefully managed in the future. Climate change, by warming the atmosphere, is creating the conditions for more extreme events.”

It looks as though this is a trend that is likely to continue, as Dr Puri states: “Yes we are going to see more increasing days of fire danger and prolonged periods of heat and dryness. Unfortunately, we’re going to get more of a Mediterranean style of climate with very hot, dry summers, and mild, very wet winters.”

The wildfires Kent has faced this summer

Cobham field fire – July 10, 2022



15 Fire engine were on hand to tackle the blaze

A field fire that tore through Cobham saw 15 fire engines on hand to tackle the blaze at the height of the incident. The incident near Gravesend saw the sky filled with deep, dark smoke when the fire began at around 9pm in the evening.

You can find the full details of this incident here.

Sheerness fire at Barton Point Coastal Park – July 16, 2022



Firefighters are advising people near Marine Parade to close their windows
The fire grew over 400m long and 250 metres wide

Kent Fire and Rescue Service responded to a large fire in Sheerness that broke out at Barton Point Coastal Park. With the fire growing over 400m long and 250 metres wide, five fire engines took to the scene to get the situation under control.

Read the full story here.

Three wildfires cripple Dartford – July 19, 2022



There were three devastating fires in Dartford
There were three devastating fires in Dartford

Perhaps the most devastating incident of the summer thus far, three separate wildfires brought Dartford to its knees at the height of the heatwaves. Throughout the day, dozens of fire engines and countless members of the Kent Fire and Rescue Service worked tirelessly to contain the incidents that burned near the A2.

Find the full details of this catastrophic event here.

70 firefighters tackle Orpington field fire – August 2, 2022



Ten fire engines and around 70 attended the scene
Ten fire engines and around 70 attended the scene

An incredible emergency service response descended upon a great blaze in Orpington that spread across 40 hectares of land. In all, approximately 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines were on hand to bring the flames that burned through a stubble field fire under control.

Read the full story here.

Dartford Heath fire – August 3, 2022

The most recent of the wildfires, this incident saw six fire engines on hand to tackle the flames that had spread over a 100m x 100m area. This is the same area of Dartford impacted by the great blazes during the heatwave.

Find further details on this story here.

Swanley field fire – August 4, 2022



Smoke from a huge fire in a field in Swanley, near to the M25
Smoke from a huge fire in a field in Swanley, near to the M25

A huge fire has torn through a field in Swanley, near the M25, today (August 4). Smoke has billowed into the sky with drivers on the motorway capturing footage of it sweeping across the road. Follow live updates on this incident here.

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Article Source: Kent Live