Firefighters ‘won’t be able to answer all calls’ as deadly heatwaves push service to ‘crisis point’

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Riccardo la Torre, from the Fire Brigades Union, said crews couldn’t attend all calls in July and he was “convinced” the picture would be the same for this heatwave. “We are going to be facing the same conditions, with the same severely decimated resources.” “I don’t think we can publicly any longer have the expectation the fire services is equipped to deal with incidents and conditions such as what we are experiencing at the moment.” open image in gallery Riccardo la Torre says the fire service is ‘at crisis point’ Mr La Torre said there were more than 11,000 fewer firefighters in the workforce compared to 2010. “At the moment, and during these periods of high temperature, periods of drought, the number of fires is just increasing and there are so many field fires, grass fires that firefighters are out all the time and they’re not getting that time to recover.” He said that meant some calls would go unanswered or would be responded to later as the fire service prioritises incidents that risk life and property. “Crews are getting quite exhausted.” Mr Elliott said services feared this heatwave could be worse for wildfires than July’s because it follows months of sparse rainfall that has caused tinder-dry conditions.