Eco & Environment, Political | Posted on August 15th, 2025 | return to news
Holt Heath fire prompts union to attack government over cuts
The Fire Brigades Union has criticised the government for its failure to provide sufficient resources to cope with major incidents.
A fire on Holt Heath that started on Saturday 9 August has been ongoing all week.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue’s (DWFR) resources were so limited that 17 crews from across the UK had to travel to help fight the devastating fire, which has destroyed 72 hectares of land.
The major incident triggered a rare National Resilience response: a national emergency programme co-ordinated by central and local government to respond to large-scale or critical incidents.
Under this, firefighters have been sent to assist in Dorset from as far away as Merseyside. Fire and rescue services sent crews from areas including Essex, Kent, Surrey, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Leicestershire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and South Wales.
All the national resources that have been on scene this week left on Friday morning, and the incident is now back fully in the hands of DWFR firefighters.
Ben Selby, Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary said: “14 years of austerity have led to incidents such as the wildfire at Holt Health becoming national emergencies. The loss of one in five 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.
“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.
“The government must face this reality and ensure that the UK is equipped to face these increasing threats by providing the investment the fire and rescue service needs.”
Val Hampshire, Fire Brigades Union executive council member for the South West said: “Firefighters continue to work tirelessly in challenging conditions to tackle the large wildfire at Holt Heath. Throughout the week, firefighter crews have travelled from all neighbouring counties and across the UK from as far as Merseyside to assist.
“This is the result of resources being shockingly thin on the ground. Dorset and Wiltshire and neighbouring services have been cut to the bone. During this wildfire there simply haven’t been enough firefighters available in the region.
“Lessons must be learned from this ongoing incident, and all fire and rescue services must start piling the pressure on central government for the funding needed.”
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Your misleading headline, “Holt Heath fire prompts union to attack government over cuts” appears to seek to blame the cuts on the current government, whereas the Fire Union is clear that it blames the “14 years of austerity”, ie Tory cuts. Deliberately misleading, I assume, reflecting your political views.