PM chairs emergency Cobra assembly as UK faces ‘nationwide emergency’ over wildfires

Andy Burnham has convened an emergency Cobra meeting as the UK battles record-breaking heat, widespread wildfires and drought, with temperatures forecast to hit 38C this week

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Andy Burnham will chair an emergency Cobra committee meeting on Wednesday in response to the sweltering heat, which has sparked widespread wildfires and plunged large swathes of the country into drought.

The Prime Minister will convene with ministers, officials and agencies as scorching temperatures persist across the UK on Wednesday afternoon, with highs of 33C forecast, rising to as much as 38C on Thursday.

Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Home Office, and the Department for Health will be in attendance, alongside the Environment Agency.

A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the Government was aware that firefighters, farmers and NHS staff were all facing significant pressures linked to the extreme weather conditions.

On Tuesday, a firefighter union chief sounded the alarm, warning that the country is facing a “national emergency” amid the ongoing wildfire crisis.

The Met Office has warned that the UK is on track for its hottest summer on record, as parts of the country brace for a fifth heatwave this season.

Rare amber “extreme heat” warnings have been issued by the forecaster for London and parts of the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire from 9am to midnight on Thursday.

The Government urged the public to keep a close eye on UK Health Security Agency heat health alerts, advising people to stay well hydrated and check in on family, friends and neighbours who may be particularly vulnerable.

A No 10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of COBR – the government emergency committee – this afternoon on the UK’s ongoing response to extreme heat, wildfires and drought. We know how challenging this summer is proving, particularly for firefighters tackling wildfires, farmers working in drought conditions, and NHS staff in busy A&E units.

“We will continue to take the action needed to keep communities safe, protect water supplies and safeguard the environment.”

Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday brings the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued.

“High pressure is now becoming dominant and temperatures will build day by day. Southerly and south-easterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe which helps develop this further notable heat in what has been a hot and dry summer so far for many in the south of the UK.”

This comes as Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), cautioned that the UK is facing a national emergency “right now” with blazes breaking out across the country. Firefighters have tackled 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 in the first 10 days of August alone, while July proved to be the busiest month on record for wildfires with 458 incidents, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) revealed.

Crews from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have been battling a blaze in the New Forest, which broke out after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday.

The area affected by the fire is protected heathland and home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest National Park Authority.

Mr Wright told Times Radio: “In many parts of the country, firefighters do not have the new modern equipment to deal with these.

“They do not have the new modern personal protective equipment, the lightweight fire kit that we wear, the right helmets, lightweight helmets, breathable uniforms to make sure they’re better protected, their health is protected when they’re out dealing with these incidents for hours and hours on end.”

Nearly three quarters of England and the whole of Wales are experiencing drought, after a record dry July and a very dry start to August combined with soaring temperatures have heaped pressure on water resources. Southern Water has lodged an application for a rare non-domestic drought order that would prohibit businesses from non-essential water usage, including washing cars and topping up swimming pools, warning that an “exceptional” shortage of rainfall has put supplies at risk across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The water firm cautioned that 165,000 residents in the Southampton West supply area could face restricted access to water.

Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will rule on the application, which would mark the first such ban since May 2006.

Record-breaking heatwaves throughout May and June resulted in the deaths of more than 2,800 people, while swathes of the country were battered by further heatwaves last month as England and Wales endured their driest July since records began in 1836.

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “I want to thank NHS staff who are once again stepping up to cope with the extra pressures that hot weather brings.

“Extreme heat can be dangerous, so staying aware of warnings and alerts in place can make a real difference.”