Spreading like wildfire: the need for a UK Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS)

In a rapidly changing world under pressure from climate change we are seeing alterations in the pattern of fires, especially in places where wildfires have not been viewed as a major threat such as the UK. Fire Danger Rating Systems (FDRS) provide a measure of the threat posed by wildfires, and are informed by fuel types, weather, and fuel moisture that are used to predict the likely behaviour of wildfires. FDRS can guide how different land types are managed to reduce risk of fire and how wildfires are responded to. In this article, Dr Gareth Clay explores the increasing prevalence of wildfires in the UK and how the UK can create an FDRS which reflects our unique ecosystems.