The Fire Brigades Union has welcomed a combined £70 million funding uplift to build the country's resilience to wildfires, saying its campaign for greater investment "has been answered".
According to the union, the package includes £45 million from the government for specialist personal protective equipment and kit, and £25 million from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for land management and wildfire prevention.
"After months of FBU campaigning, the government and DEFRA have announced a combined funding uplift of £70m to build wildfire resilience," the FBU said. "The FBU will continue to fight for the recruitment of thousands more firefighters."
'Setting the right course'
Responding to the Budget, FBU general secretary Steve Wright said: "Andy Burnham's Labour government is setting the right course to deal with the cost of living crisis, and measures such as increasing taxes on banks, ending standing charges on gas bills and raising the national minimum wage will help millions."
He said making Britain more resilient would take bolder action, including taxing wealth, greater public ownership and increasing wildfire resilience.
More firefighters needed
The union says the service has lost 12,000 firefighters since 2010, leaving crews working longer hours under greater pressure. It is calling for thousands more firefighters to be recruited, and for presumptive legislation so that firefighters who develop illnesses linked to the job get the recognition and compensation they deserve.
"Between now and the Spending Review, we will be pressing the case for increased and sustained investment in fire and rescue services," Steve Wright said, "including the funding, resources and workforce needed to respond to the full range of risks and threats this country faces, from major emergencies and flooding, to climate change driven wildfires."
