More than 1,000 wildfires have been recorded across Britain this week.
Baroness Blake of Leeds has been appointed fire minister (Image: Getty)
Baroness Blake of Leeds has been appointed fire minister, the Government said, as more than 1,000 wildfires have been recorded across the country this year. Baroness Blake is serving in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The announcement is part of the Prime Minister’s package of measures to respond to the devastating fires that have struck up and down the country due to the prolonged dry and hot weather.
Mr Burnham also called in the military, announced a ban on disposable barbecues and warned smokers not to risk setting light to “tinderbox” Britain. The Prime Minister also revealed he planned to commission firefighting planes, as used to douse flames in Europe and the US, to combat the spread of wildfires.
Mr Burnham said plans were being drawn up for emergency financial support for fire services battling the spread of wildfires.
He also said the country has to “face up” to the “changing climate” and needs to transition to “more clean energy”.
His comments came on a visit to Stourbridge to see the impact of a devastating blaze.
Mr Burnham told broadcasters: “I’ve never seen scenes like this in Britain, where you just see a whole house gutted, smouldering.”
The Prime Minister said 100 military personnel had been deployed to a blaze in South Wales to offer “critically needed” support.
He said “Britain is a tinderbox right now” with “37 fires smouldering around the country”.
Mr Burnham acknowledged that aerial firefighting capabilities would help and they would be commissioned nationally for use around the country.
He promised a summit with fire services as he acknowledged they had not been given the funding needed to cope with the impact of climate change – including the possibility of floods later in the year.
He said: “I can’t say today that we’ve done enough to fully resource them to deal with these type of incidents, and I want our firefighters to know that I understand how it seems from their point of view, and I’m going to convene that summit to make sure we get in place the right support, including the aerial support, permanently if that is what they deem is needed. Obviously, there’s other adjustments that we need to make in relation to climate change.”
He said experts had warned the UK could face a wet autumn and winter because of the El Nino effect “so, after fire could come floods”.
A heat health alert was extended until Saturday for much of England amid warnings that high temperatures may increase health risks for vulnerable groups.
Temperatures provisionally reached 38.1C at Kew Gardens in London on Thursday, the second time this year the country has seen temperatures hit 38C.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended the current amber heat health alert for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, London and East of England until 10am on Saturday.
All other regions in England remain under an amber alert until 9pm on Friday.
The UKHSA has warned high temperatures “may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups”.
With record dry conditions in July and a dry start to August, nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought, heaping pressure on water resources for households, agriculture and the environment.
MPs have urged the Prime Minister to deal with the “desperately worrying” strain on the UK’s water resources by speeding up the rate at which Britain’s new reservoirs are built.
Analysis by the UKHSA found around one in six of all heat-associated deaths in England during summer last year were thought to be linked to dementia.
Angelo Makri, senior knowledge officer for wellbeing at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “High temperatures can pose serious risks for people living with dementia if they are not supported to stay cool and hydrated.
“People with dementia may not always recognise when they need a drink or wear suitable clothing, which can increase the risk of dehydration and heat-related illness.
“With temperatures set to reach extreme highs this week, we’re urging families, friends and carers to make sure loved ones are drinking enough, wearing light clothing and keeping their homes as cool as possible.”
Dan Scorer, director of public affairs at Mencap, said: “This week’s extreme heat is not just uncomfortable, it can be life-threatening.
“And for people with a learning disability, the risks are often greater.
“Too often these risks are overlooked, but much of the harm caused by hot weather is preventable with the right support and action.”
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