3 days ago
'Severe and frequent' wildfires threat sparked by multiple UK heatwaves
'Severe and frequent' wildfires threat sparked by multiple UK heatwaves
Firefighters union raise alarm after Welsh staff diverted to tackle huge blaze in Dorset more than 100 miles away
Wildfires in Spain and Portugal will be effecting the sky in the UK
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
As Wales heats up during the fourth heatwave of this year so far, the Met Office have warned that it may not be blue skies for some as fire services deal with scorching wildfires.
Wales is set to reach temperatures of up to 29C this weekend - August, 16 - in areas such as Cardiff and Monmouth, Cardigan, Chepstow, and Newport just behind. Wildfires grappling Spain and Portugal due to the rising temperature may be the reason for the lack of blue skies in your area as the smoke, plus Saharan dust, drifts across the UK, according to the Met Office.
Wales has had an increase in temperature this week once again with Cardiff being the hottest city across the UK.
The Met Office also advised people to be camera ready as we can "expect enhanced sunsets and sunrises in the coming days — deeper reds and oranges thanks to light scattering".
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Elsewhere, the South Wales Fire Service have helped tackle the major wildfire at Holt Heath, Dorset that is believed to have been deliberately started on August, 9 lasting six days.
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South Wales firefighters joined crews from across the UK to aid fire crews in Dorset due to "a critical lack of resources", according to Fire Brigades Union.
Ben Selby, Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary said: "Fourteen years of austerity have led to incidents such as the wildfire at Holt Health becoming national emergencies. The loss of 1 in 5 firefighter posts to cuts, with fire engines taken off the run and fire stations closed up and down the country, means that there is no resilience left.
"Wildfires are intensive incidents, requiring a large number of firefighters and specialist resources. They are becoming increasingly severe and frequent as a result of the climate emergency.
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"The government must face this reality and ensure that the UK is equipped to face these increasing threats by providing the investment the fire and rescue service needs."
As well as south Wales crews travelled from Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Leicestershire, Surrey, Lincolnshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Avon, Essex and Kent among others, to assist local emergency services.
