| Swinley Forest, May 2011 |
May 2011 saw one of the biggest English wildfires – in Swinley, Berkshire 16. Over 105 hectares of forest burnt, fanned by strong winds on a background temperature of 30°C 17. Several local schools were closed due to the risk of smoke induced illnesses. The fire spread close to Broadmoor high security hospital, and urgent plans for evacuation of patients were made. Several local homes adjacent to the site were evacuated. |
| Pitbright Ranges, 2003 and 2010 |
In 2003 and 2010 over 850 hectares of lowland heath burnt at Pirbright Ranges 18, owned by the Ministry of Defence. Again high temperature, low humidity and strong winds created a large fire front, at times 2 km wide. Along with road closures and significant local disruption, military housing adjacent to the ranges was evacuated and smoke threatened a large housing estate to the west with vegetation ash landing several km away in Farnborough and Aldershot. |
| Thursley Common, 2006 |
Natural England’s National Nature Reserve in Surrey burnt in 2006, the wildfire covering over 160 hectares 19. As well as threatening several private properties adjacent to the site and closing several roads, three fire fighters suffered burns requiring hospital treatment. |
