Responding to a reported increase in grassfires owing to hot temperatures, Fire Brigades Union General Secretary, Matt Wrack, said:
“The heat this summer seems to have caused a worrying increase in grassfires and, as global temperatures increase as a result of climate change, this trend is likely to continue in the future.
“The growing risk of grassfires represents another strain on the dwindling-resources of fire and rescue services currently experiencing severe cuts across the country.
“Although firefighters have become much more effective at preventing and combating fires over the last decade, the need remains for firefighters to be ever-ready to meet constantly emerging challenges and mobilise sufficient firefighters and engines at short notice to prevent loss of life or damage to property and the environment .”
The 2006 report by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Effects of Climate Change on Fire and Rescue Services in the UK, accepted that there is “a clear and demonstrable link between hot dry summers and the number of fires” and estimated an extra workload of up to 50% more incidents of grassland fires would, “stretch the resources of the Fire and Rescue Services”.
