Wildfires: what can the UK and other nations learn from Australia’s world-leading fire response systems?

A wildfire in Tasmania in 2021. Matt Palmer/Unsplash, CC BY-ND Wildfires are becoming a feature of the UK’s hotter, drier climate. In July 2026, major fires swept through parts of the UK in a matter of days – notably setting Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano in the centre of Edinburgh, alight. The Scottish Greens labelled wildfires a “national emergency” after that fire. Meanwhile, the Welsh government activated its crisis plan to tackle ongoing blazes in north Wales, while raising concerns…