Firefighters continue to tackle the major wildfire at Holt Heat, Dorset, with a critical lack of resources meaning that crews have had to travel from across the UK to assist.
All neighbouring fire and rescue services have sent crews, including Devon and Somerset; Avon; Gloucestershire; Oxfordshire; Royal Berkshire; and Hampshire & Isle of Wight.
The major incident has triggered a rare National Resilience response: a national emergency programme co-ordinated by central and local government to respond to large-scale or critical incidents.
Under this, firefighters have been sent to assist in Dorset from as far away as Merseyside. Fire and rescue services sending crews also include Essex; Kent; Surrey; Bedfordshire; Lincolnshire; Norfolk; Leicestershire; Greater Manchester; Merseyside; Lancashire; and South Wales.
Ben Selby, Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary said:
Fourteen years of austerity have led to incidents such as the wildfire at Holt Health becoming national emergencies. The loss of 1 in 5 firefighter posts to cuts, with fire engines taken off the run and fire stations closed up and down the country, means that there is no resilience left.
Wildfires are intensive incidents, requiring a large number of firefighters and specialist resources. They are becoming increasingly severe and frequent as a result of the climate emergency.
The government must face this reality and ensure that the UK is equipped to face these increasing threats by providing the investment the fire and rescue service needs.”
Val Hampshire, Fire Brigades Union executive council member for the South West said:
Firefighters continue to work tirelessly in challenging conditions to tackle the large wildfire at Holt Heath. Throughout the week, firefighter crews have travelled from all neighbouring counties and across the UK from as far as Merseyside to assist.
This is the result of resources being shockingly thin on the ground. Dorset and Wiltshire and neighbouring services have been cut to the bone. During this wildfire there simply haven’t been enough firefighters available in the region.
Lessons must be learned from this ongoing incident, and all fire and rescue services must start piling the pressure on central government for the funding needed.”
