An exceptionally hot summer has created perfect conditions for fire

Ben RichLead Weather Presenter The weather, on its own, rarely causes wildfires. A fire needs a source of ignition. Rarely, this can be a bolt of lightning, but more often it’s caused by human activity – perhaps a discarded cigarette, a spark from a barbecue, fallen power lines or sometimes even arson. But the weather can bring the perfect conditions for a fire to take hold and spread, and this is exactly what has happened this time. It has been an exceptionally hot summer so far in western Euro