Local MP Responds to Army Wildfire Deployment

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, David Chadwick said:

“Our firefighters have been working around the clock in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, and the additional support from the military is extremely welcome. I want to thank everyone involved in protecting our communities, including firefighters, farmers, emergency workers and our Armed Forces across Wales and in my own constituency.

“It is important that military support remains flexible and can be redirected quickly to wherever the need and risk is greatest, based on the evidence and advice of those coordinating the emergency response. That must include other parts of Wales, including Mid and West Wales, where communities are also dealing with serious wildfires.

“Once this immediate emergency has passed, we also need a serious look at whether Wales and the wider UK have the specialist resources needed to respond to increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat and wildfire, including learning from other European countries with far greater experience of tackling these conditions. This event should also put to bed previous proposals to close or downgrade fire stations across rural Wales.”

ENDS