UK wildfires expose ‘postcode lottery’ of firefighting resources, says union

Firefighters from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service preparing to tackle gorse fires on the Mourne mountains on 7 April. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA

Wildfires across the UK during hot, dry springs and summers have exposed a “postcode lottery” of firefighting resources that must be addressed, the head of the Fire Brigades Union has said.

Steve Wright, the general secretary, said public safety was at risk, and called for a statutory body to ensure that each fire and rescue service had enough staff and appliances.