A survey of thousands of Fire Brigades Union members has laid bare the scale of the UK's wildfire resilience crisis, with 69% saying they feel significantly under-equipped to tackle wildfires.
Almost 50% of the firefighters who responded said welfare facilities at wildfire incidents were inadequate. One described "the dread of coming into work when most of the on call stations are off the run and just one wildfire can deplete the availability for the whole county."
Steve Wright: 'Firefighters need the resources'
FBU general secretary Steve Wright warned that aerial support and banning disposable barbecues alone will not make the UK wildfire resilient, insisting firefighters need the resources, training and numbers to prevent and respond to these incidents properly.
The union welcomed the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's report on wildfire resilience as a good start, but said thousands more firefighters are needed to ensure a safe and adequate response in future.
Cuts under fire
The FBU has also warned that proposed cuts affecting 14 fire stations across the West Midlands could lead to slower response times and put the public at risk, calling for more firefighters across the UK to build resilience against wildfires and flooding rather than further cuts.
