Government equips military planes to fight wildfires after 'unrelenting' summer blazes

Following a summer marked by "unrelenting" blazes during hot and dry weather, the Government has announced that military aircraft and helicopters are to be equipped to combat wildfires.

A package of measures aimed at helping "hero" emergency personnel and protecting landscapes against ignition has been unveiled prior to England’s inaugural wildfire resilience summit on Friday, hosted by Andy Burnham.

Under the new plans, RAF A400M planes and Chinook helicopters will be outfitted for fire suppression to assist crews in difficult terrain such as steep slopes and isolated moorland, creating the UK's first permanent military aerial firefighting capability.

Up to £45 million in funding will provide frontline firefighters with specialised lightweight gear that is more breathable than standard structural equipment, allowing it to be worn for extended periods during outdoor operations.

Preventative initiatives include £25 million to restore dried-out English peatlands into natural water-retaining firebreaks, alongside financial assistance for farmers to clear flammable materials and dig ponds in high-risk areas.

Ministers confirmed they are also evaluating stricter regulations or product bans to limit accidental ignitions when the threat level is high.

The summit follows an exceptionally damaging wildfire season driven by record-breaking heat and widespread drought that left parks, fields, and rural areas dry.

By 16 August, emergency services across England and Wales had attended 1,132 wildfires this year—surpassing the total figure recorded across the whole of 2025—including severe blazes at Suffolk's Dunwich Heath and in Stourbridge, West Midlands, where 19 homes were destroyed.

The situation escalated to the point that an emergency phone alert was issued across England and Wales on 14 August to warn the public of a very high national wildfire risk.

A report published earlier this week by Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee cautioned that wildfires have become "part of our new reality", with climate change driven by burning fossil fuels increasing their frequency and severity.

Committee members called for dedicated firefighting aircraft, temporary bans on disposable barbecues during period of high risk, and public campaigns modelled on Australian awareness strategies to make activities that cause fires "socially unacceptable".

At Friday's event, the Prime Minister will meet fire service leaders, regional representatives, technical experts, and commercial figures to address prevention, emergency response, and recovery plans for future fires in England.

Additionally, an intergovernmental meeting involving devolved administrations is being arranged to coordinate a nationwide response, following major blazes in the Scottish Cairngorms, Northern Ireland's Mourne Mountains, and the Rhinogydd mountains in South Wales.

Mr Burnham said: "I stood in Stourbridge and watched families lose everything.

"I will never forget it. Our firefighters were heroes that day, but heroes shouldn’t have to fight with one hand tied behind their backs.

"Crews will now have the kit they need to stay safe and military aircraft will stand ready to help tackle wildfires from the sky. We cannot put people through another summer like this one."

Communities Secretary Angela Rayner said: "The wildfires we’ve faced this year have been unrelenting, leaving a devastating impact on communities, homes and our precious countryside.

"We’ve heard loud and clear from communities, experts and emergency services that more needs to be done.

"That’s why we’re taking immediate action now while working across government and the sector to build a stronger, more resilient national response to wildfires for the future."

Further steps comprise an artificial intelligence unit to spot and tackle blazes faster, joint work with the Met Office to improve forecasting for public awareness, and the development of England's first official wildfire action plan.