Military planes to fight wildfires and survival campaign launched - see kit list

Military planes to fight wildfires and survival campaign launched - see kit list Ministers are ramping up plans to prepare for extreme and severe weather in the UK, from the blazing heatwaves earlier this year to the challenges El Niño could bring this winter Military planes and helicopters will be equipped to fight wildfires after Britain faced a summer of extreme heat. Andy Burnham announced the RAF’s Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft will be prepared to help crews across the UK battle blazes on remote moorland, steep hillsides and other hard-to-reach terrain. Ministers are ramping up plans to prepare for extreme and severe weather in the UK, from the blazing heatwaves earlier this year to the challenges El Niño could bring this winter. On Thursday evening, Mr Burnham said he will "never forget" seeing the devastation in Stourbridge this summer, where fires destroyed 19 homes. At a major wildfire summit on Friday, the PM will meet fire chiefs, local leaders and experts to make sure this summer's scenes are never repeated. Sources told the Mirror the summit will include assessing how the UK can learn lessons from other countries that have long battled unpredictable conditions. “This is about preparing for extreme weather for years ahead,” one insider said. Mr Burnham said: "I stood in Stourbridge and watched families lose everything. I will never forget it. Our firefighters were heroes that day, but heroes shouldn't have to fight with one hand tied behind their backs. “Crews will now have the kit they need to stay safe and military aircraft will stand ready to help tackle wildfires from the sky. We cannot put people through another summer like this one." As part of the wildfire preparation plans, £45million has been announced to boost England's firefighters with additional specialist teams and wildfire-specific personal protective equipment. A new Wildfires AI Unit will also be established in Cobra's national situation centre, bringing together top universities, tech firms and government to spot and fight fires faster. Ministers also vowed to invest in making landscapes more resilient, including a £25million injection to restore dried-out peatlands in England so they hold more water and act as natural firebreaks, as well as financial support for farmers to fireproof their land, through digging ponds and removing burnable materials in high-risk areas. Meanwhile, Security Minister Dan Jarvis on Thursday launched a public awareness campaign to ensure British families are aware of how to stay prepared if everyday services are temporarily disrupted by extreme weather or other events like cyberattacks. The "Be Ready" campaign urges Brits to keep a small supply at home, including non-perishable food and bottled water, and to sign up to the Priority Services Register, a service that helps gas, water, and electricity companies identify customers that may need extra support in an emergency. Katie White, Minister for Climate Transition, said: "Anyone who thinks climate change is a problem for our children and grandchildren, rather than here and now, should spend a shift with a firefighter. This summer, crews battled devastating wildfires in extreme heat, risking their lives to protect the places we love. The threat is already here, staring us in the face. “We can't stop every wildfire, flood or storm, but we can make sure Britain is ready. This summit is about better equipping our brave emergency services, protecting our people, and building a stronger country, whatever the weather.” The National Trust has reacted to this news, and Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust, has written a passionate opinion piece for the Mirror expressing its stance. The 'Be Ready' Checklist - Bottled water for three days, three litres per person per day for drinking. More would be needed for other tasks such as cooking and washing. - Non-perishable food for three days, such as food with a long shelf life that doesn’t need refrigeration or cooking e.g. tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts. - Hygiene products like hand sanitiser, wet wipes, hygiene and bathroom products. - Torch (and spare batteries) and blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing. - FM radio (battery/wind-up) and charged up power bank. - Cash (mix of coins and notes) and cards, copies of IDs/documents, important phone numbers and information - First aid kit / first aid items and essential medication and medical supplies. - Baby formula. Ready-made or ‘ready-to feed’ formula is best, as you may not be able to boil water to makeup powdered formula safely. Nappies and wipes. - Pet food and bottled water.