‘National priority’ to equip UK firefighters amid growing wildfire threat

Exclusive: FBU calls for more funding as ‘unprecedented summer’ puts rising demands on already stretched crews Firefighters in the UK are under increased pressure as a result of an “unprecedented summer of dangerous and volatile wildfires”, the Fire Brigades Union has said, as many parts of the country brace for a fifth heatwave of the year. As authorities declared almost three-quarters of England was now in drought, Steve Wright, the FBU general secretary, said the unpredictable environmental challenges the UK was now confronted with meant it was a “national priority” to have enough properly equipped firefighters to “face these threats”. More than 120 firefighters continued to tackle a blaze in the New Forest national park in Hampshire that began on Sunday. Nottinghamshire fire and rescue service declared a major incident on Sunday as two large fires in woodland near Mansfield put a significant strain on resources there. The spokesperson did not say what threshold would constitute a national emergency.

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