'My visit to Stourbridge will not leave me': PM pledges shake-up of services after devastating wildfires

The Prime Minister spoke of the devastation he witnessed in Stourbridge in the aftermath of last month’s wildfires, saying the memory would never leave him.

During a discussion in the Commons yesterday, Andy Burnham said the fire service was “not set up for the future”, and promised a major shake up to meet the needs of years to come.

Mr Burnham was responding to a question from Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles, in which she asked for more resources to tackle future wildfires.

Miss Eccles thanked the firefighters “for giving their all” in the most challenging of conditions.

“On the hottest day of the year, the fire spread over 600 acres, destroying 19 homes and damaging many more,” she said.

“With extreme heat becoming the norm in a changing climate, what are the Government doing to ensure that our fire services are properly resourced for future wildfires?”

The Prime Minister replied: “I remember well my visit to Stourbridge, it will not leave me, actually, because of the devastation, and the loss of everything in a moment for so many families.

“My honourable friend’s support for them was really visible on the day, and the community is clearly very strong, that was evident.

“I am going to be chairing a wildfire summit, and she is welcome to be part of that, if she wishes.

“Our fire services are not set up for the future. I mentioned community resilience before, we need a fire service that has a statutory responsibility to deal with flooding, that is equipped to deal with wildfires, and with back-up national aerial support, so that there is better support next time we see these issues.

“I give my honourable friend my word that we will learn every possible lesson from what she and her community went through.”