Mark Hardingham, chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), said hot and dry weather had combined to create the perfect conditions for wildfires.
So far in 2022, he said there had been 745 wildfires in the UK - more than a 200% increase from the total figure of 247 for all of last year.
Fire chiefs are urging people not to bring combustible items to open spaces.
Wildfires are classified as being large enough to cover an area the size of at least two-and-a-half football pitches.
Firefighters have been responding to these incidents “day in, day out” before the record-breaking temperatures of 40C (104F) in July, he said.
Though wildfires can sometimes occur naturally, ignited by heat from the sun or a lightning strike, most are caused by human carelessness. A disposable barbecue in an open, public space might not normally be enough on its own to start a blaze. But drought conditions which have been officially declared across much of England, as well as hot temperatures over the course of July and August, have created conditions that are “perfect at the moment for wildfires”, Mr Hardingham said.
“The temperatures, the fact we’ve had no appreciable rainfall for quite some time, the wind speed of 10-12 mph so fires once they start spread very quickly, and humidity is very low,” he added.
Morons + barbeques = millions of pounds of countryside damage … 
