Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called in the military, announced a ban on disposable barbecues, and warned smokers not to risk setting light to “tinderbox” Britain as he scrambled to respond to the summer heatwave and wildfires.
He also revealed plans to commission firefighting planes, as used to douse flames in Europe and the US, to combat the spread of wildfires. Speaking during a visit to Stourbridge to see the impact of a devastating blaze, Mr Burnham said the country has to “face up” to the “changing climate” and needs to transition to “more clean energy”.
Military support and firefighting planes
Mr Burnham said 100 military personnel had been deployed to a blaze in South Wales to offer “critically needed” support. He added that “Britain is a tinderbox right now” with “37 fires smouldering around the country”.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that aerial firefighting capabilities would help and they would be commissioned nationally for use around the country.
Funding and future risks
Mr Burnham said plans were being drawn up for emergency financial support for fire services battling the spread of wildfires. He promised a summit with fire services as he acknowledged they had not been given the funding needed to cope with the impact of climate change – including the possibility of floods later in the year.
“I can’t say today that we’ve done enough to fully resource them to deal with these type of incidents, and I want our firefighters to know that I understand how it seems from their point of view, and I’m going to convene that summit to make sure we get in place the right support, including the aerial support, permanently if that is what they deem is needed,” he said.
“Obviously, there’s other adjustments that we need to make in relation to climate change.” He said experts had warned the UK could face a wet autumn and winter because of the El Nino effect “so, after fire could come floods”.
