Britain boosts wildfire defences with £97 million investment for firefighters and climate threat
The government has announced a significant investment of £97 million to support the UK’s capacity to tackle the growing threat of bushfires caused by increasingly hot and dry conditions linked to climate change.
In this important programme, specialist fire crews will be strategically positioned in key regions including Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Northumberland, London and South Wales. These units are planned to be operational by the end of June to provide rapid response and relieve pressure on local services.
Over the past months, these teams have undergone intense training, honing their skills in advanced strategies such as tactical burns. Their preparations also included international learning exchanges in South Africa and Poland, drawing on global expertise.
The funding package also represents the largest upgrade to National Endurance fire vehicles and equipment in two decades.
Created in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the National Resilience program provides specialized capabilities and resources for a range of critical events, from natural disasters to industrial accidents. This investment forms part of the New Dimensions 2 programme, which focuses on replacing and developing these vital national capabilities.
According to the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), these capabilities were used more than 1,000 times in the last year alone, with fires identified as a growing demand for the service.
Building Safety Minister Samantha Dixon highlighted the importance of the investment, saying: “This country benefits from a dedicated fire and rescue service and as events continue to get more complex it is critical that we support those on the front line with the latest equipment. Last year we saw some of our most devastating bushfires in recent history and as we head into peak season we are recruiting and providing the resources, training and assets needed to minimize the increased risk.”
Earlier this month, a separate £3m investment was announced to restore thousands of acres of moorland, including areas affected by one of the UK’s biggest bushfires last year. A large area of the North York Moors National Park was engulfed by fire in August and September 2025, covering 10 square miles and lasting more than six weeks.
MHCLG figures reveal fire services in England tackled nearly 27,000 grassland, woodland and crop fires in the spring and summer of last year. This increase in incidents has been largely attributed to prolonged periods of dry weather, which has led to drought declarations in several parts of the country, with some services reporting their highest figures for the spring since comparable data began.
