FIRE service bosses are guilty of “sabotage by inaction” and are “making excuses” over the growing risk of wildfires across Britain, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) charged today.

Firefighters have reacted angrily to statements by fire chiefs this week that “clearly have been written to downplay the impact of under-resourcing” on their response to soaring temperatures, which are triggering blazes on parched land nationwide, the union said. 

They are “incensed that bosses are making excuses for themselves and the government for the failure to prepare for extreme weather events caused by climate change,” the FBU said.

The intervention came a day after the union warned that Tory austerity has caused the loss of more than 11,500 firefighters – over a fifth of the workforce – since 2010, despite the worsening impacts of human-induced global warming.

FBU assistant general secretary Andy Dark criticised a comment by the National Fire Chiefs Council that this summer’s extreme weather and wildfires are “unprecedented.”

“Fire services and the government were warned that there had to be proper plans and resources in place and they did nothing,” he said. “We have been raising the alarm for years and years.

“Fire bosses need to stop the pretence. Instead of fighting for proper investment for our service, they have stood by while the government has presided over cuts. 

“We’ve got fire engines sat in stations because there aren’t enough people to staff them. On one day [last month], whilst wildfires raged, there were 40 such fire engines gathering dust across London.

“Wildfires have been on the government’s National Risk Register since 2013. Bosses knew this and chose to look the other way.

“They should all be totally ashamed for their sabotage by inaction.”