2 godzin temu
Parts of England sweltered in temperatures reaching 29C today while firefighters grappled with resource shortages amid the continuing heatwave. London faces highs of 30C with Cardiff slightly cooler at 29C as yellow heat warnings remain in place.
The UK Health Security Agency has yellow warnings until 6pm on August 18 for Yorkshire and Humber, East and West Midlands, London and South East, South West and east of England. The weekend should be dry and sunny for most parts of the UK, with temperatures forecast to hover around 30C on Saturday and 29C on Sunday in south-west England.
Firefighter resource crisis
Crews travelled from across the UK to tackle the major wildfire at Holt Heath in Dorset, highlighting critical resource shortages within emergency services. The blaze burned through 72 hectares, requiring firefighters from Merseyside, South Wales, Greater Manchester, Leicestershire, Surrey, Lincolnshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Avon, Essex and Kent to assist local services.
Ben Selby, Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary, said services had undergone "14 years of austerity". He warned: "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."
Selby added: "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."
Active wildfire response
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue estimated crews would remain on scene overnight dealing with the complex blaze. The service said: "Crews are still working in three sectors dealing with an increase in flare-ups, hotspots and deep-seated fires identified using drones. This is due to the weather conditions."
Vehicle breakdown surge
The extreme heat has triggered a 10% surge in vehicle breakdowns between Monday and Thursday compared to the same period last week. Faulty tyres are the main cause as rising temperatures increase air pressure inside tyres.
RAC breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson said: "With the extreme heat expected to continue into the weekend, we're warning drivers to take every precaution possible to avoid getting stranded at the side of the road. We've already seen a 10% increase in breakdowns this week with faulty tyres being the main cause."
She advised checking tyre pressure and condition before long journeys, explaining: "When temperatures rise, the heat of the air inside tyres does the same, so it's especially important to check the pressure and condition before a long journey. This is especially crucial if your car is parked on the street - rather than in a garage - where it's directly exposed to the sun."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
