William Eichler 22 June 2026

£97m wildfire investment to ease pressure on local fire services

£97m wildfire investment to ease pressure on local fire services image
Fire fighters dealing with a large grassfire on an upland moors in Wales © Richard Whitcombe / Shutterstock.com.

A £97m Government investment in fire and rescue assets will help take pressure off local services as wildfire incidents continue to grow, the Government has announced.

The funding will deliver the largest scale upgrade of National Resilience assets in almost twenty years, covering new off-road vehicles and specialist equipment.

Specialist capabilities were used over 1,000 times in 2025 alone, with devastating wildfires identified as a growing demand on the service.

Alongside the investment, teams of specialist wildfire firefighters will be strategically positioned and hosted by fire and rescue services in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Northumberland, London and South Wales, deployable to incidents across England by the end of June.

Teams have undergone intense training over spring and summer, including travel to South Africa and Poland to learn from the international community.

The announcement follows last year's wildfires, which caused widespread damage across North York Moors National Park.

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know image

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council
£25959.0000 - £28621.0000 per annum
Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,959 up tp £28,621 per annum (full-time equivalent)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Apprentice Highways Operative

Durham County Council
£15,434 per annum NMW in first year of apprenticeship
Earn. Learn. Qualify. Do you want to earn while you learn, with the chance of progression once you qualify? Do you want the opportunity to grow, deve Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Workers - Casual

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £30,024 - £33,699 pro rata to hours worked. Pay award pending.
Residential Workers - Casual Contract Opportunities are available across the County Durham Area We have opportunities available to join the casual p Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Workers

Durham County Council
Grade 7, £30,024 - £33,699 per annum. Pay award pending.
Residential Workers - Opportunities are available across the County Durham Area Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Leaders

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £32,597 - £36,363 per annum (pay award pending)
Team Leaders – Opportunities are available across the County Durham Area   Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner