Firefighters ‘knowingly put at risk’ during summer wildfires across south Wales

This summer’s wildfires across south Wales were the worst in living memory for many firefighters, leaving crews and the public “knowingly put at risk” because of chronic kit shortages, the Fire Brigades Union says. At the height of the season, firefighters were told there were no pumps or appliances available across their entire region, while control-room staff fielded almost 2,000 emergency calls in a single day – far above the normal 200-300 – and colleagues took turns stepping out for ten-minute breaks just to keep the room staffed.

Risk and kit

Grounding the response, the Fire Brigades Union reports, was a shortfall of 400 firefighters in Wales and personal protective equipment never designed for wildfire work: crews climbed hills in boots meant for house fires and wore non-breathable layers as temperatures soared. An FBU survey found 69% of firefighters felt significantly under-equipped and just 8% fully equipped, with nearly half reporting insufficient welfare facilities during deployments. Injuries – lower-limb trauma and heat illness – were common, and many firefighters remain off work months later.

Why it matters

The Welsh wildfires have become a national test of how Britain prepares for a hotter, drier climate. A report from the UK’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee says the incidents exposed weaknesses in resilience and preparation that extend beyond Wales, and it is calling on Westminster for a UK-government-funded national wildfire prevention campaign tied into weather forecasts. With the firefighting levy ultimately set by the Welsh government, the pressure on Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Treasury to plug the gap is mounting as the cost of a single peak day ran to more than £500,000 for North Wales alone.

What happens next

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth is hosting a climate-change and resilience summit in Merthyr Tydfil, bringing together fire services, police, local government, farmers and climate organisations to agree future actions. The EFRA Committee’s recommendations are due to be debated in Westminster in November, with unions demanding a ring-fenced wildfire fund before next summer’s season begins.