Key facts
- The UK government scrapped plans to prepare England for wildfires.
- Fire crews in England lack adequate wildfire personal protective equipment (PPE).
- More than half of 29 responding fire services reported no wildfire PPE.
- The government's wildfire risk programme was intended to run from 2023 to 2027.
- Environmental campaigner Guy Shrubsole obtained the information via a freedom of information request.
The UK government has quietly abandoned a plan to prepare England's countryside for wildfires, a move environmental campaigners have described as "appalling." The commitment, outlined in the third national climate adaptation programme published in July 2023 under the previous Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak, aimed to adapt land management for wildfire risks between 2023 and 2027. However, the current government has stated the programme was "not brought into effect."
Guy Shrubsole, an environmental campaigner, revealed the information through a freedom of information request, criticizing the government for not prioritizing wildfire risks until after the country experienced severe wildfires this summer. These wildfires, exacerbated by hot and dry weather, turned large parts of the countryside into a "tinderbox."
Following a wildfire in Stourbridge in August that destroyed homes, Prime Minister Andy Burnham convened an emergency Cobra meeting and implemented a temporary ban on disposable barbecues. Alistair Carmichael, chair of the Commons environment food and rural affairs committee, expressed alarm that ministers had not prioritized land adaptation for wildfire risk, questioning if more resources could have mitigated the impact of this summer's fires.
Further data obtained by the Country Land and Business Association revealed significant deficiencies in wildfire preparedness among fire services. More than half of the 29 fire services that responded to requests reported having no wildfire-specific personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes the Suffolk fire and rescue service, which dealt with a large wildfire near the Sizewell B nuclear power station. Standard PPE may not protect against hazardous gases like carbon monoxide found in wildfire smoke and can be too hot and heavy for crews, leading to overheating or removal of gear.
Training for wildfires is also limited, with only 1.2% of staff in Cleveland qualified for tactical advice or command, and 8.62% of employees in Cheshire trained for wildfire operations. The Fire Brigades Union is calling for adequate PPE and training programs, emphasizing the need for better land management, public awareness campaigns, and long-term prevention measures through proper investment and a dedicated wildfire strategy.