Army deployed to fight wildfires as UK heatwave continues

The UK is in the grip of a prolonged heatwave that has brought drought, wildfires and unprecedented strain on public services. In South Wales, the army has been called in to help fire crews battle blazes that have been burning for weeks. More than 200 soldiers, including Gurkhas, are digging firebreaks and supporting firefighters as 14 separate wildfires continue to rage across the region.

The deployment came as the Prime Minister chaired his first emergency Cobra meeting on the extreme heat. Andy Burnham urged retailers to stop selling disposable barbecues, which have been blamed for starting many of the fires. He stopped short of an outright ban but said the government would consider one for future summers.

Wildfires have swept across England and Wales, with more than 1,000 recorded so far this year, matching the record total for the whole of last year. In the New Forest, a fire has been burning since Sunday, covering an area the size of 230 football pitches. In Stourbridge, West Midlands, 19 homes were destroyed and dozens more damaged when flames ripped through the town on Thursday. Residents have begun returning to assess the damage, with many describing the speed and ferocity of the fires as terrifying.

The heatwave has also brought drought. Nearly three quarters of England and all of Wales are now officially in drought. A fresh hosepipe ban has been imposed on 1.4 million Wessex Water customers, bringing the total number of people affected by restrictions to more than 25 million. Rivers and reservoirs are at record lows, and farmers are reporting crop failures and machinery damage as the ground turns to concrete.

The economic cost is mounting. A green think tank estimates the heatwaves from May to the end of July could have cost the economy £4.4 billion in lost output. The Fire Brigades Union is calling for 5,000 more firefighters and better equipment, including water-bombing aircraft. The government has promised £100 million for new equipment and specialist crews, but critics say more needs to be done to adapt to a changing climate.

Temperatures are expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius in parts of England this week, with an amber extreme heat warning in place. Rain is forecast for some areas, but fire chiefs warn the danger is not over. The army's help has been extended by 48 hours as crews continue to tackle the blazes. The long-term challenge of living with hotter, drier summers is now a pressing question for the UK.