Prime Minister Andy Burnham is to chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee this Wednesday afternoon as temperatures rocket, with extreme heat causing wildfires and drought across areas of the country.
The meeting will see the PM meet with ministers, officials and agencies, including representatives of Defra, the Home Office, the Department for Health and the Environment Agency.
Second Cobra meeting of the summer
This is the second such Cobra meeting, after one took place during the June heatwave, reports PA. A Downing Street spokesperson said the Government understood that firefighters, farmers and NHS staff are all facing challenges connected to the weather.
This Wednesday is set to record temperatures of 33C, with up to 38C forecasted for Thursday. London is among the areas with a rare amber “extreme heat” warning from 9am to midnight on Thursday.
National emergency warning
On Tuesday a firefighter union chief warned the country faces a “national emergency” amid ongoing wildfires. Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), warned the UK faces a national emergency “right now” with fires across the country.
Firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 in the first 10 days of August alone, while July was the busiest month on record for wildfires.
Government response and advice
The Government urges the public to pay attention to UK Health Security Agency heat health alerts, and advises people should drink plenty of fluids and check in on family, friends and neighbours who may be at high risk.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of COBRA – the government emergency committee – this afternoon on the UK’s ongoing response to extreme heat, wildfires and drought. We know how challenging this summer is proving, particularly for firefighters tackling wildfires, farmers working in drought conditions, and NHS staff in busy A&E units. We will continue to take the action needed to keep communities safe, protect water supplies and safeguard the environment.”
Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday brings the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued. High pressure is now becoming dominant and temperatures will build day by day. Southerly and south-easterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe which helps develop this further notable heat in what has been a hot and dry summer so far for many in the south of the UK.”
The Government said it had announced £97 million in new funding to upgrade national firefighting capabilities, including off-road vehicles and specialist equipment.
