The U.K. plans to create a permanent military aerial firefighting capability by modifying RAF aircraft and Chinook helicopters for wildfire work after a hot, dry summer that brought more than 1,100 wildfire responses.
Officials announced the step after fires tore through parts of England and Wales, burning countryside and destroying homes, including in Stourbridge.
Here's what to know
As The Independent reported, the broader wildfire package includes preparing RAF A400M planes and Chinook helicopters for suppression work in hard-to-reach places, including steep hillsides and remote moorland.
Ministers said the measures are intended to improve emergency response after a severe wildfire season.
Frontline firefighters will also receive specialist clothing designed for long periods outdoors, with up to £45 million (about $60 million at current exchange rates) allocated for gear that is lighter and more breathable than standard structural equipment.
Andy Burnham will host England's first wildfire resilience summit, bringing together fire officials, regional delegates, specialists, and business representatives to discuss prevention, emergency response, and recovery.
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Emergency services in England and Wales had attended 1,132 wildfires by August 16, already more than the total recorded in all of 2025.
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner said, "The wildfires we've faced this year have been unrelenting, leaving a devastating impact on communities, homes and our precious countryside."
More background
On Aug. 14, an emergency mobile alert was sent across England and Wales warning that wildfire danger was exceptionally high nationwide. The most serious incidents included fires at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk and in Stourbridge, West Midlands, where 19 houses were destroyed.
Record heat and widespread drought left parks, fields, and the countryside parched.
Parliament's Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee said wildfires are now "part of our new reality" and warned that climate change, driven by burning coal, oil, and gas, is increasing both their frequency and severity.
The report recommended dedicated firefighting aircraft, temporary bans on disposable barbecues during high-risk periods, and public-awareness campaigns based on Australian fire-safety efforts.
What's being done?
Another £25 million ($33.3 million) is being directed to restore dried English peatlands so they can hold water and act as natural fire barriers. Farmers in high-risk areas will be able to access funding to clear combustible material and create ponds.
The government is considering stricter regulations and possible product bans to curb accidental fire starts during periods of extreme wildfire risk.
Officials are building an AI unit to identify and respond to fires faster, alongside work with the Met Office to improve forecasts and public alerts.
England is preparing its first formal wildfire action plan, and officials are arranging a cross-government meeting with devolved administrations after significant fires in the Scottish Cairngorms, Northern Ireland's Mourne Mountains, and South Wales' Rhinogydd range.
"I stood in Stourbridge and watched families lose everything," Burnham said. "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.
Burnham added, "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."
Where can I learn more?
These stories look at how wildfire risk and firefighting pressure are growing across England and the wider U.K.
• At DEFRA, England's promised wildfire plan had still not begun after 2023.
• Britain's environment department entered a punishing summer with just 20 climate adaptation staff.
• In England's New Forest, crews often attack wildfires from the edges to stay safe.
• In Suffolk, a fast-moving blaze swelled to 140 football pitches across dry countryside.
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