UK under increased threat of forest fires
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has reported that the number of heath, forest and grass fires in the UK has increased by over 60% in the last 20 years. The FBU analysed government figures that show between 1986 and 1993 there were 37,371 grassland and heath fires, but between 1994 and 2005 there were 60,332, an increase of 61.94%. Last year there were 88,400 fires. The trend is obviously for more fires every year. When summers are not hot and arid, there is an increased risk of flooding. The FBU is concerned that they do not have enough staff and resources to tackle outdoor fires such as these and deal with domestic and commercial property fires.
Sean Cahill of the FBU said: “Tackling these sorts of fires or flooding is becoming a huge part of our job… The rise in the threat posed by global warming is unprecedented and it's out of our control. We believe these threats posed by extreme weather are going to increase… People think tackling the new threats associated with climate change is just an aside to our job… But it's becoming a core part.”
The FBU warns the government is ignoring the problem at its peril. Despite the rising incidences of fire and flood threats, the FBU claims that the government has done very little so far. A Local Government Association review document looking at the future of firefighting up to 2017 makes no mention of climate change at all.
