Motorists drving in certain areas of the UK could be at risk of starting fires as hot weather and temperatures topping 30C swarms Britain over the next few days. According to specialists, parking or idling near dry vegetation could quickly become a major risk.
Experts at Leasing.com claim any small sparks, such as a dropped cigarette butts, can lead to a blazing fire. Hot temperatures with little rainfall makes this more likely with the current heatwave likely to exacerbate the issue. Rural routes and those living in the countryside are most affected due to large amounts of grass and vegetation. Mike Fazal, Motoring expert and CEO at Leasing.com urged drivers to take precautions after officials noticed more incidents.
He said: “Wildfire risk might sound dramatic for the UK, but we’re seeing more incidents.
“Stay alert on country roads and never throw cigarette ends from your window.”
The warning comes as millions of Britons across the UK continue to enjoy a blistering heatwave this week.
According to the Met Office, temperatures will hit 30C in London on Friday before climbing to 31C in the capital on Saturday.
Fire services have already issued wildfire warnings with heathlands, fields and cliffsides thought to be most at risk.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue stressed road users needed to extinguish smoking materials properly.
They stressed road users should not throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows and instead must take any litter home.
Group Manager Jim Weston said: “The longer we go without rain means that the ground and foliage get really dry, leading to a greater risk of fire spreading if something happens to cause ignition.
“We have already had a number of devastating fires this year, so we would urge anyone going out and about in our beautiful countryside to take extra care and be vigilant.”
However, it may not just be cigarettes, with safety experts previously warning that hot exhausts could also pose a serious risk.
Some exhaust systems of combustion petrol and diesel vehicles can get extremely hot with many even reaching up to a blistering 500 degrees.
Safety inspector expert Torsten Hesse previously recommended drivers to always look at their car’s manual before setting off.
He warned the manufacturer will have usually stated in black and white if there are any serious risks from a heated exhaust system.