FIRE services are desperately understaffed and need huge investment, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has warned ahead of another heatwave set to hit Britain this week.

Much of the country is forecast to see temperatures of about 35°C in the coming days, as scientists warn human-induced climate change is making incidences of extreme heat more common.

July’s heatwave saw firefighters fighting wildfires nationwide, while austerity-hit services in London declared their busiest period since World War Two.

FBU assistant general secretary Andy Dark warned that several firefighters “were injured and many people lost their homes” last month, as Britain recorded temperatures above 40°C for the first time. 

“Heatwaves have been on the government’s National Risk Register since 2008, and wildfire as a national risk was added to the register in 2013.

“Instead of improving fire and rescue services we’ve had 11,500 firefighters cut since 2010.

“Understaffing was so bad [last month] that nearly all fire and rescue services in the most severely affected areas had to call up off-duty firefighters. 

“If we are to properly protect life and property from wildfires, the fire service urgently needs huge investment.”