Latest editorial
A large wildfire at Lickey Hills Country Park on the edge of Birmingham. Picture date: Monday July 18, 2022.
FIREFIGHTERS in England tackled nearly four times more wildfires this summer than last, a freedom of information request reveals today.
Fire services responded to at least 24,316 wildfires during June, July and August, which is the highest number during that time in at least 10 years, according to the statistics obtained by the PA news agency.
Some forces battled more than 50 wildfires a day at the height of last summer’s record-breaking temperatures and droughts.
The recent heatwaves revealed how ill-prepared Britain remains for a hotter future – and how unequal the ability to cope with it has become, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Since 2010, one in five firefighter jobs has disappeared alongside 30% funding cuts — all while climate breakdown brings record blazes and flooding. It’s time to fund our fire service properly, writes FBU general secretary STEVE WRIGHT
