The Prime Minister is leading the first Wildfire Resilience Summit today.
Published 23rd Oct 2026, 06:00 BST
Farmers are set to get financial support to fireproof their land and remove fuel loads in high-risk areas, Andy Burnham has announced, ahead of England’s first Wildfire Resilience Summit.
The Prime Minister is leading the event today after the hottest summer in history saw a record breaking number of fires igniting in moorland, fields and the countryside.
Attendees include Google, Airbus and Vodafone Three, as well as fire and rescue services and an array of Government ministers.
He announced that military planes and helicopters - including the RAF’s Chinooks and A400M aircraft - will be equipped so they can fight fires and tackle remote blazes on hard to reach terrain.
Fire services are set to get specialised wildfire teams and state-of-the-art, light weight protective equipment, as part of a £45m funding boost.
The Government is set to spend £25m to restore dried out peatlands to act as natural firebreaks, while farmers will be given cash to fireproof their land and remove burnable materials.
It was unclear whether the rules around controlled burning on peatland would be changed.
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."
So far this year, fire and rescue services across England and Wales have battled more than 1,300 wildfires, surpassing the total for the record breaking 2025.
Last year, the largest wildfire in the country was at Langdale Moor in North Yorkshire, which was sparked by a campfire.
The rescue effort of fire crews, farmers and gamekeepers was beset by explosions from World War Two munitions, as it reached RAF Fylingdales which was built on an old army training area.
After six weeks, the blaze was eventually put out, but not before it had surged towards properties and businesses.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said: “As the threat of wildfires in the UK grows, defence will step up to provide greater support to our emergency services and protect military training areas across the country.
“This will see the RAF’s Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft equipped with new specialist firefighting equipment to enable them to tackle wildfires from the skies for the first time.”
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle added: “The wildfires that tore through our countryside this summer showed the urgent need to adapt to our changing climate.
"Nature is our greatest ally in preventing wildfires starting in the first place, with healthy landscapes keeping more moisture in the ground to stop fires spreading.
“That’s why we are stepping in and investing £25m to restore peatlands as well as backing farmers to deliver natural fire safety measures on their land.”
The Government also announced a wildfire AI unit would be set up in COBR’s National Situation Room, bringing together universities and tech firms to spot and fight fires faster.
It committed to working with the Met Office on better forecasts of the blazes, and to help with public awareness and prevention.
Climate Transition Minister Katie White said: “Anyone who thinks climate change is a problem for our children and grandchildren, rather than here and now, should spend a shift with a firefighter.
“This summer, crews battled devastating wildfires in extreme heat, risking their lives to protect the places we love. The threat is already here, staring us in the face.
“We can't stop every wildfire, flood or storm, but we can make sure Britain is ready.
“This summit is about better equipping our brave emergency services, protecting our people, and building a stronger country, whatever the weather.”
Only this week, the cross-party Environment (EFRA) Committee published a report warning that “wildfire is part of our new reality”.
Fires could no longer be regarded as rare or exceptional events as climate change increases their frequency and severity, the committee said, as it called for a national strategy to tackle the threat.