UK to draft in military aircraft to fight wildfires, Burnham says

RAF Chinook crews have already helped respond, external to wildfires in Cyprus.

In addition to military aircraft, the government said it would also spend £45m on wildfire-specific personal protective equipment for firefighters on the ground.

It is lighter than current firefighting equipment which is designed for fires in buildings and not meant to be worn for a long time, the government added.

Ministers are also pledging a £25m scheme from April 2027 to April 2029 to restore dried-out peatlands in England so they are natural firebreaks, and financial support for farmers to fireproof their land such as by digging ponds.

"The government will also look at tougher local restrictions or product bans to stop people starting fires when the risk is high," a briefing ahead of the summit said, following a temporary ban on disposable BBQs.

Burnham will meet fire chiefs, local leaders and experts from tech companies at the summit.

"I stood in Stourbridge and watched families lose everything," he said on Thursday, recounting the night of a wildfire that destroyed 19 homes in the West Midlands in August.

"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."

Earlier this month, MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said there were weaknesses in the UK's wildfire preparedness, including access to aerial firefighting resources, securing water supplies during major incidents and coordinating resources at a national level.