UK government unveils wildfire resilience package at first national summit

The UK government has pledged £45m for wildfire PPE, military aircraft and a new AI unit at its first national wildfire resilience summit.

• Andy Burnham announced a new AI unit in the National Situation Centre to spot and fight wildfires faster.
• The government pledged £45m for wildfire-specific protective equipment for firefighters on the ground.
• Military aircraft, including RAF Chinooks, will be made available to fight fires on remote and hard-to-reach terrain.
• The government will allocate £25m from April 2027 to restore dried-out peatlands in England as natural firebreaks.