UK PM announces military aircraft to help fight future wildfires
The government earmarked up to £45 million to counter the increase in blazes after recent summers exposed Britain's lack of preparedness and response capacity.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that the UK military will provide helicopters and planes to combat wildfires, as the nation prepares for its inaugural resilience summit. The government plans to allocate up to £45 million ($60 million) to bolster firefighting efforts, including additional specialist teams and protective gear for frontline services.
Burnham, addressing the summit, recalled the devastating Stourbridge blaze that destroyed 19 homes and urged a swift transition to clean energy, amid warnings of climate change-fueled wildfires. Environmental activists criticized Burnham's decision to approve new drilling in a North Sea gas field, deeming it an "ironic" juxtaposition to the resilience summit.
The military will deploy RAF Chinook helicopters and specialized transport aircraft to aid firefighting crews, particularly in remote and challenging terrain.
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