MB: "Of all the acres of dry land/fields across the UK, the only real ‘wildfires’ reported were those of grass patches around people’s homes, resulting, allegedly, in the destruction of those homes. What are the chances of such fires being so confined to the close proximity of people’s homes? Little to chance, of course."RC: Even a quick google reveals that wildfires have been increasing all over the UK for over a decade eg:"The UK has been rather hot of late. So hot, in fact, that parts of England and Wales recently received their first ever red warning for extreme heat."Coupled with months of below average rainfall, a heatwave sparked wildfires on July 19 – Britain’s hottest day ever – in places as far afield as Cornwall, Kent and Pembrokshire. Wildfires also gave the London Fire Brigade its busiest day since the second world war."Wildfires were added to the national risk register of civil emergencies in 2012 – a UK government assessment of credible threats to society. But British wildfires are usually smaller and less intense than those in southern Europe, mainly burning moorlands and heathlands. Deciduous forests, which are more widespread in the UK, are more fire-resistant than the pine forests of southern Europe, which are, at the time of writing, alight in many places."There was an alarming sequence of wildfires in the north of England and Scotland in early 2019, when higher than average temperatures followed a relatively dry late winter. In February, fires engulfed Saddleworth Moor in Greater Manchester and in April, wildfires in Moray in the Scottish highlands raged for over two weeks. While none of these fires came close to the conflagrations which afflict southern Europe, evidence suggests they are becoming more common in the UK."An analysis of data from 2014 to 2020 showed a near-consistent increase in the number of wildfires recorded each year in the UK. This trend is linked to the changing climate and as such, is set to continue."https://theconversation.com/wildfires-are-becoming-more-common-in-the-uk-but-the-threat-can-be-managed-187217In other words, the UK (all parts) has been experiencing more wildfires than ever, but the nature of them, plus the location i.e. usually in rural areas, mean that they aren't nearly so newsworthy as a series of fires threatening houses on the edge of London.Now note Brown's use of "reported wildfires" in the first line I quoted above: Then consider what all sane* people know, i.e. that just because something isn't reported (newsworthy), doesn't mean it isn't happening.* - Excludes Brown, obviously.
Richard Cathcart ● 1522d