NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 13, 2026Miami-Dade
UK and France face record heat waves and wildfires as drought conditions intensify
The United Kingdom recorded its hottest day of the year at 38.1°C (100.6°F), triggering multiple wildfires in West Midlands and straining public infrastructure. Simultaneously, France and Greece are battling widespread forest fires and extreme heat, leading to emergency evacuations and calls for increased resources for emergency services.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
Extreme heat and drought are causing immediate public health risks, property damage from wildfires, and potential water usage restrictions for residents and businesses in the UK and across Europe.
Key Facts
- The UK reached a record high temperature of 38.1°C (100.6°F) in West London.
- West Midlands experienced significant wildfires that destroyed multiple homes.
- One child and three firefighters were hospitalized following a wildfire in Stourbridge.
- The UK has experienced five heat waves in 2026.
- England and Wales have recorded 1,017 wildfires so far this year, matching the total for all of 2025.
- Southern Water has requested a drought order to ban non-essential business water use, the first such request since May 2006.
- In Greece, over 300 tourists and residents were evacuated by sea due to a wildfire in the Halkidiki peninsula.
- French firefighters are threatening to strike to demand more personnel and resources.
- Many UK hospitals lack adequate cooling, leading to reports of nursing staff fainting from heat exhaustion.
Who's Mentioned
organizationNational Fire Chiefs Council“UK fire service data provider”personNicola Ranger“Executive Director and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing”personAngela Eagle“Environment Secretary”personSimon Tuhill“Fire chief in West Midlands”organizationSouthern Water“Water utility company in Southern England”personRichard Parker“Mayor of West Midlands”