UK Wildfires Still Burning as Fire Chiefs Warn of 'Extreme Pressure,' Arson Charge Filed in Dovestone Blaze

Since fire chiefs declared major incidents in Conwy, north Wales, and Glossop, Derbyshire on Sunday, the UK's wildfire crisis has stretched into a third straight day of firefighting with no relief in sight. Around 19 fires remain active across the country as of Tuesday, according to Phil Garrigan, chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council.

"There's no real respite," Garrigan told BBC Breakfast. "There doesn't seem to be any rain forecast and that becomes problematic."

The Conwy wildfire, which prompted a major incident declaration, has now been brought under control, according to North Wales Fire and Rescue Service assistant chief fire officer Justin Evans. But crews are still actively battling blazes in Braichmelyn forestry near Bethesda and across the Rhinogydd mountain range near Harlech.

Farmer Gareth Wyn Jones, whose land borders Conwy Mountain, said he'd "never seen anything of that scale." Ponies grazing on the mountain escaped the flames, but Jones said he feared for a neighbor's pigs as fire swept through surrounding land. The animals ultimately survived, though smoke carried directly over them.

Dovestone Fire Enters Its Third Week, Arson Charges Filed

The moorland fire at Tintwistle Moor near Dovestone Reservoir in the Peak District, which started June 24, has now burned roughly 260 hectares (642 acres) of moorland and woodland. Between 30 and 40 firefighters are still on scene.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service senior fire chief Ben Levy said crews faced "a very challenging and gruelling day ahead" as high temperatures, strong winds and dry ground continue feeding the fire. He urged the public to take extra care in the countryside to cut the risk of new ignitions.

Greater Manchester Police arrested Shania Care-Slede, 20, of Hyde, earlier this week on suspicion of arson connected to the Dovestone fire. Police confirmed Tuesday she has been charged with aggravated arson, reckless endangerment of life and dangerous driving. Those are charges, not a conviction, and the case has not gone to trial.

New Fires in Dorset, Warnings Across England and Wales

A new wildfire broke out on heathland at Agglestone, near Studland in Dorset, with smoke first reported around 5 p.m. Monday. Crews from seven fire stations worked the blaze until 8 p.m., and relief teams were expected to stay on scene through Tuesday.

Over the weekend, wildfires also hit Hampshire, Durham, West Sussex, East Sussex, Devon and Somerset, adding to the strain on fire services already stretched thin by the Conwy, Glossop and Dovestone incidents.

Natural England is warning of a "very high" or "exceptional" wildfire risk across much of England and Wales over the next several days, as the heatwave shows no sign of breaking.

The Toll Extends Beyond Britain

The UK fires are burning against the backdrop of an already deadly European wildfire season. In Spain's Almeria province, a wildfire that has since been contained killed at least 13 people, including five believed to be British nationals, in one of the country's deadliest blazes on record.

Among the dead are Pete and Fran Gillam, a British couple who lived in Bédar, the village hit hardest by the fire. Their daughter, Danielle Gillam-Kirton of Sheffield, confirmed on Facebook that police had told the family her parents did not survive. Gillam-Kirton said her mother had texted that evening to say they were evacuating, and the family heard nothing further before confirming their deaths days later.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said the department is "supporting British nationals affected and their families" and remains in contact with Spanish authorities. The Spanish fire burned through about 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) before being contained.

No rain is forecast for the UK for at least a week, according to fire chiefs, meaning the roughly 19 active fires and the exceptional fire-risk warnings from Natural England are likely to persist through the rest of July. Investigators have not said whether any of the other UK blazes, beyond the Dovestone fire, are being treated as suspicious. Care-Slede's case will now move through the courts, where the arson and endangerment charges will be tested. Meanwhile, Spanish authorities have not yet officially confirmed the identities of all 13 people killed in the Almeria fire, including the 93-year-old woman believed to be British who died of her injuries in hospital on Sunday.