The Army has been deployed to tackle UK wildfires in a bid to quell particularly vicious blazes as the country surpasses a grim milestone. Wildfires in Wales and the West Midlands have been declared "major incidents", a rare designation outlining the immense danger they pose, following an emergency UK Government Cobra meeting on Wednesday.
Military support on the ground
Around 200 military personnel from the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistics Regiment and the 22 Engineer Regiment were deployed to South Wales following a request from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) for logistical, operational and planning support as crews tackled ten large fires across the region. New pictures show the armed forces personnel helping draw fire breaks to prevent the wildfires from spreading further afield.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "We have a system of mutual aid in play at the moment, where fire and rescue services are supporting each other, but with so many incidents, it is crucial that the military support is there if fire and rescue services can’t do the same backup that they would normally be doing. So that is hugely appreciated."
Record number of fires
Pictures show Gurkha soldiers wandering through burned-out countryside, with vast pillars of smoke seen erupting behind them. Others have shown dozens of troopers wandering through woodland in Cardiff, where they used pickaxes to dig out fire breaks and woodblocks. The personnel came from one of the UK's three standby battalions, held at high readiness to support emergency services and local authorities during major incidents.
The Ministry of Defence said troops would be providing a variety of assistance types while they are on the ground. The MoD said: "Armed Forces personnel have been supporting the response to wildfires in South Wales – working alongside local authorities and emergency services to provide planning, transport and coordination support."
Wildfire risk and warnings
This year has already seen a record number of fires, according to recent data, which shows the country has experienced more this year so far than in 2025 overall. Data shared by the National Fire Chiefs Council found that 1,017 fires have been recorded this year so far, a grim record powered by the extreme temperatures. NFCC chairman Phil Garrigan told the Press Association: "Most wildfires in the UK are caused because of human behaviours, careless, accidental or unfortunately intentional acts.
"But as climate change brings more frequent periods of hot, dry weather, the conditions for wildfires are becoming more dangerous, increasing their scale and intensity. Hot, dry weather and drought are turning parts of the UK into tinderbox landscapes, allowing fires to spread faster, burn longer and place greater pressure on fire and rescue services."
On Friday evening, millions of people in England and Wales received an alert on their mobile devices warning them of a "very high risk of wildfires nationally". It came after the Prime Minister described Britain as a "tinderbox" and a temporary ban on disposable barbecues was put in place.
The Prince of Wales shared a statement on Saturday thanking emergency services which have been "working tirelessly" to battle wildfires across the country. William said: "To the firefighters, emergency responders and volunteers battling wildfires across the UK, thank you. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, particularly those who have lost their homes, and with those working tirelessly to protect communities, homes and the countryside."
