Fire union says 'somebody will die' if cuts continue

More than 100 firefighters were called in to fight the Holt Heath blaze after it started on Saturday

A fire brigade union has said that "somebody, somewhere will die" unless fire services receive more government funding.

The comments come from Val Hampshire, executive council for the Fire Brigade Union in the South West, who was reacting to a major fire at Holt Heath, north of Wimborne in Dorset.

The blaze, believed to have been started deliberately on Saturday morning, has now burnt an estimated 72 hectares (177 acres) of land.

The government said it gave fire and rescue authorities almost £3 billion in the last financial year to help tackle wildfires and will continue to ensure services have the resources they need.

The union has said the national response triggered by this event just highlights the lack of resources available

Ms Hampshire said "The government really need to take note on this, they need to see this isn't just an unusual occurrence, this is going to happen time and time again."

She praised the work by crews from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) and 17 services across the country who have "worked exceptionally hard" to tackle the heath fire.

The union has said the national response triggered by this event just highlights the lack of resources available to services across the country.

"We need 5,000 more firefighters now unfortunately it takes two years to train firefighters," Ms Hampshire said.

She believes the biggest barrier for the service is "funding".

Adding "14 years of austerity cuts" mixed with "climate change" has left the country heading for "disaster".

DWFRS cut fire engines last year and Ms Hampshire said the next step for them is "cutting fire stations".

She has urged the government to "stop the cuts in the fire service" or it will put "the public at risk".

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "Increasing wildfires present a real risk to people, which is why we are taking action to ensure fire services and national bodies can manage and respond to risks.

"This includes funding a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor to make sure we can protect communities, alongside giving Fire and Rescue Authorities almost £3 billion in the last financial year to help tackle wildfires - and we will continue to ensure services have the resources they need."