Last summer’s record temperatures saw a major rise in the number of fires attended across Oxfordshire, new figures show.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to 628 fires across July, August and September – a 78 per cent increase from the 325 fires recorded in the same period in 2021.

It coincides with a summer that was the joint hottest ever recorded in the UK, according to the Met Office, with lower than usual levels of rainfall.

Across the UK, 68,278 fires were recorded over the three summer months - more than any other three-month period in over a decade.

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In Oxfordshire, there was an 18 per cent rise in the number of ‘primary fires’ - which occur in non-derelict buildings and cars or involve a fatality or casualty – and a 150 per cent rise in ‘secondary fires’ - generally small outdoor fires, not involving people or property.

The average incident response time was also found to have slowed across 2022.  

In Oxfordshire, the average response time for primary fires was 11 minutes and nine seconds, an increase on 2021 when it was 10 minutes and 35 seconds.

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said fire services needed to prepare for future extreme weather.

He said: "The Government has turned a blind eye to the obvious: the climate emergency means record breaking heatwaves. Rising temperatures mean an increase in dangerous fires. More fires mean more pressure on firefighters and our fire service.

"However, our fire service has been cut to the bone over the last decade, and 11,500 firefighter jobs have been slashed since 2010.

"The fire and rescue service must urgently plan for this coming summer and for the future. This must involve properly funding and resourcing our service for the years to come.

"Politicians and chief fire officers have ignored years of warnings. Now they must act."

Members of the union were due to strike over an ongoing pay dispute, but this has now been postponed following an increased pay offer from fire and rescue service employers.

A Home Office spokesperson acknowledged the increase in fire numbers but pointed out there had been no corresponding increase in fire-related fatalities compared to the previous year.

They said: “The Government is committed to ensuring fire services have the resources they need to keep us safe, including from wildfires, and, overall, fire and rescue authorities received around £2.5 billion in 2022-23.

“The Home Office maintains regular engagement with national bodies including the National Fire Chiefs Council and England and Wales Wildfire Forum to monitor and review sector led improvements to wildfire response and mitigation.”