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Andy Burnham will chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee on Wednesday in response to extreme heat causing widespread wildfires and drought across the UK. The meeting will involve ministers, officials, and agencies, as high temperatures continue, with forecasts predicting 33C on Wednesday and up to 38C on Thursday.
The Government has allocated £97 million to enhance national firefighting capabilities, including new off-road vehicles and specialist equipment. As of now, nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales are experiencing drought conditions due to extremely dry weather.
Andy Burnham will chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee on Wednesday to address challenges posed by extreme heat, which has led to widespread wildfires and drought conditions across the UK. The Government has announced £97 million in funding to enhance national firefighting capabilities amid warnings from the Fire Brigades Union that the country is facing a ‘national emergency’ due to ongoing wildfires.
What remains unclear — The specific measures that will be implemented following the Cobra meeting have not been disclosed.
Andy Burnham to chair COBRA meeting on UK heatwave response
Andy Burnham will chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee on Wednesday in response to extreme heat, which has caused widespread wildfires and plunged the country into drought.
The Prime Minister will meet with ministers, officials and agencies as high temperatures continue across the UK on Wednesday afternoon, with temperatures of 33C forecast, and up to 38C on Thursday.
Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Home Office, and Department for Health will attend. The Environment Agency will also be present.
It will be the second Cobra meeting this year on heatwaves, after one took place amid high temperatures in June.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the Government understood firefighters, farmers and NHS staff were all facing challenges connected to the weather.
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On Tuesday a firefighter union chief warned the country faces a ‘national emergency’ amid ongoing wildfires.
The Met Office said the UK is on course for its hottest summer on record, as parts of the country face their fifth heatwave this summer.
Rare amber ‘extreme heat’ warnings have been issued by the forecaster for London and parts of the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire from 9am to midnight on Thursday.
The Government urged the public to pay attention to UK Health Security Agency heat health alerts, and advised people should drink plenty of fluids and check in on family, friends and neighbours who may be at high risk.
A No 10 spokesperson said: ‘The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of COBR – the government emergency committee – this afternoon on the UK’s ongoing response to extreme heat, wildfires and drought.
‘We know how challenging this summer is proving, particularly for firefighters tackling wildfires, farmers working in drought conditions, and NHS staff in busy A&E units.
‘We will continue to take the action needed to keep communities safe, protect water supplies and safeguard the environment.’
It comes as Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), warned the UK faces a national emergency ‘right now’ with fires across the country.
Firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 in the first 10 days of August alone, while July was the busiest month on record for wildfires with 458 incidents, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said.
Crews from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have battled a fire in the New Forest, which started after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday.
The area hit by the blaze is protected heathland and home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest National Park Authority.
The Government said it had announced £97 million in new funding to upgrade national firefighting capabilities, including off-road vehicles and specialist equipment.
Nearly three quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought, after a record dry July and very dry start to August has combined with high temperatures to put pressure on water resources.