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Hereford & Worcester fire chief warns that lives could be lost in future UK wildfires
Overview
A senior fire chief at Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has warned that lives could be lost in future wildfires following a destructive summer of blazes in the Midlands. Group Commander Dave Swallow stated that he expects similar scenes to the fires that destroyed homes in Stourbridge and Pershore to happen again as climate change brings hotter summers. He has advised the public to minimize risks around their properties and is lobbying the government for a UK-wide fire danger rating system similar to Australia's.
Key points
- Group Commander Dave Swallow warned that future wildfires in the UK could result in a loss of life.
- Nineteen homes were destroyed in Stourbridge and another blaze left two families homeless in Pershore during hot weather in August.
- Swallow advised residents to remove potential fuel sources, such as wooden or plastic outdoor furniture, from near their properties.
- He is lobbying through the National Fire Chiefs Council for a government-legislated fire danger rating system similar to Australia's.