Fire and rescue services across the country have attended an unprecedented number of calls during the recent spell of hot weather, managing in very difficult conditions despite the huge increase in demand.
Control room staff in fire and rescue services have been dealing thousands upon thousands of calls and ensuring help gets to where it is needed as quickly as possible.
The Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) briefed the prime minister on the situation and hourly reports are being fed into ministers as the situation changes.
Stretched to the limit
While fire and rescue services are stretched to the limit, they are all coping under the pressure and diverting resources wherever necessary to ensure firefighters get to where support is needed most.
Fourteen fire and rescue services declared major incidents on July 19th. Major incidents are usually larger, more complex incidents, endanger lives, threaten larger areas, and require additional levels of co-ordination across a range of emergency services and other agencies.
London Fire Brigade reported to have been its busiest day since the Second World War, attending more than 1,110 incidents. At one stage the brigade was attending 15 large scale incidents simultaneously; some requiring between 10 and 30 fire appliances to be at scene.
Incidents caused by wildfire
Many major fire incidents across UK have been caused by wildfires and NFCC is urging people to take additional care
NFCC’s National Resilience capability can be called on to deploy fire service assets anywhere across the UK, along with specialist advisers to assist at these large and complex and incidents.
Many of these major incidents have been caused by wildfires and NFCC is urging people to take additional care as the country faces some of the highest temperatures on record. This is to reduce the risk and to avoid seeing similar scenes we are witnessing across Europe.
This year, England and Wales have had 442 wildfires – which compares with 247 last year. This is, in part, due to climate factors, so fire safety advice should be followed not only during the heatwave but throughout the year.
These incidents are putting huge pressure on fire and rescue services. The current conditions across the country mean there is a higher risk of wildfires than usual – just one spark could cause untold damage while posing a threat to lives at a time when resources are stretched to the limit.
An exceptionally high number of calls received
NFCC Chair Mark Hardingham commented: “We have seen fire and rescue services receive an exceptionally high number of calls during the last few days. Fire control rooms across the country have given superb and professional support to co-ordinate the demand with the ultimate aim to keep people and property safe.”
“However, the number of large fires and major incidents declared is concerning. We are working with all fire and rescue services and government departments to ensure additional support can be given where and when it is needed.”
“I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to the firefighters, control staff, officers and support staff who have worked tirelessly over the past few days in difficult conditions, with the same aim – to prevent injuries and protect life.”
Home Secretary paying tribute
Home Secretary Priti Patel pays tribute to the professionalism and skill of the fire services across UK
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “I have just been updated on the national fire situation. With dangerous fires burning across the country, I continue to urge the public to follow all safety advice from their local fire service, and stay safe.”
“I pay tribute to the professionalism and skill of our fire services, who are working in difficult conditions to protect lives and communities. Please continue to follow all advice from your local emergency services.”
Incidents from the past
Below is a list of a very small proportion of the total incidents from the past few days:
- London Fire Brigade declared a major incident following a wildfire in Wennington, Greater London, with more than 100 firefighters in attendance.
- In Buckinghamshire, 100 homes were left without power, properties were evacuated and dozens of fire crews attended
- 15 fire engines and firefighters from across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire attended a fire at a Nottingham farm
- 1,000 homes across south Norfolk had their power cut after an electrical pylon caught fire
- A major incident in North Yorkshire has also been declared, following a major fire
- Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident due to wildfires in the area
- Norfolk has seen a range of incidents including field fires and a fire at a costal park, which has led to a major incident being called
Buckinghamshire, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Humberside, London, Cheshire, Leicestershire, Bedford, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire all declared major incidents.
There have also been 13 water fatalities in the past few days, and fire and rescue services have also been responding to carry out water rescues.
