Suffolk County Council has set out what happened in the county during the extreme heat of mid-July 2022, in a council news column by Councillor Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, published on 15 August 2023. Parts of Suffolk reached temperatures of up to 39C and the county received its first-ever red weather warning1. The heat affected roads, the rail network and emergency services, which the council says came under immense pressure1.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident on Tuesday, 19 July 2022, for the first time in decades, after a surge in fires in the open caused by the heatwave1. The council says the major incident lasted a day, but additional demand continued, making it one of the busiest summers on record for the service. It also assisted colleagues over the county border, including in Essex and Norfolk, while fire services across the country declared major incidents1.
Firefighters in Suffolk responded to more than 500 fires in the open during July and August 2022, compared with just over 100 in the same period in 20211. Most were wildfires on farmland, in forests and woodland, or on heaths, which started accidentally due to careless behaviour. The council notes that Suffolk is a predominantly rural county, so fires in the open become far more common during prolonged dry weather1. Property damage was minimised and lives were saved, according to the council, but the fires caused disruption including road closures, destruction of trees and wildlife, and for some farmers a loss of livelihood1.
"Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was forced to declare a major incident for the first time in decades on Tuesday, 19 July, following a surge in fires in the open caused by the heatwave."
| Measure | July and August 2021 | July and August 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Fires in the open attended by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service | Just over 100 | More than 500 |
| Peak temperature reported in parts of Suffolk | Not stated | Up to 39C |
| Red weather warning | None previously issued for the county | First-ever, mid-July 2022 |
Why it matters for households
The council's account shows how extreme heat can affect households well beyond the temperature itself: road and rail disruption, pressure on emergency services, and fires in the open in rural areas. The council attributes most of the 2022 wildfires to accidental starts from careless behaviour, and sets out its own advice for warmer weather, including putting litter in bins, avoiding barbecues and campfires in public open spaces, making sure cigarettes are fully put out and disposed of properly, and not leaving glass items lying around after a picnic1. It also advises that anyone using a barbecue at home keeps it away from flammable materials such as sheds, fences and hedges, and keeps a bucket of water nearby1.
On open water, the council says around 85% of drownings happen in open water, that even good swimmers are not immune to strong currents, uneven banks and riverbeds, and shock from cold water temperatures, and refers people to guidance from the Royal Life Saving Society1. The council's warning colours and what they mean are set out in the guide to Met Office weather warnings, and heat-specific alerts are explained in Heat-Health Alerts: Yellow, Amber and Red Explained. Households can read how services respond under the Adverse Weather and Health Plan, and how to receive warnings via Met Office weather alerts and Heat-Health Alerts. Further background is in the heatwaves and drought section.
What happens next
No further dates or measures have been reported.
Sources (1)
- suffolk.gov.uk, suffolk.gov.uk
Heat-Health Alerts Explained
Met Office Weather Warnings
