New specialist wildfire response teams are being deployed across England as part of a national effort to strengthen resilience against increasingly frequent and complex fire incidents.
The programme will see teams of specially trained firefighters strategically positioned in key locations and ready to respond rapidly to wildfires across the country.
The initiative aims to provide faster support to affected communities while reducing pressure on local fire and rescue services as incident numbers continue to rise.
Advanced Wildfire Training
The specialist teams have completed intensive training developing expertise in the latest wildfire suppression techniques, including tactical burning.
As part of their preparation, firefighters also travelled to South Africa and Poland to learn from international wildfire specialists and gain insight into global best practice.
Protecting Communities and Countryside
The announcement follows a series of significant wildfire incidents last year, including widespread damage across North York Moors National Park.
The new capability is designed to provide additional protection for vulnerable rural communities, critical infrastructure and environmentally sensitive landscapes as wildfire risks continue to increase.
Investment in National Resilience
The wildfire teams form part of a wider £97 million investment programme that will deliver the largest upgrade of National Resilience assets in almost 20 years.
The funding will provide state-of-the-art equipment, including dedicated off-road vehicles, alongside a major overhaul of existing specialist vehicles and operational assets.
Building Safety Minister, Samantha Dixon, said: “This country benefits from a dedicated fire and rescue service and as incidents continue to evolve in complexity, it’s critical that we back those on the frontline with the latest equipment.
“Last year saw some of our most devastating wildfires in recent history and as we head into peak season, we’re getting on and delivering the resource, training and assets needed to minimise the escalating risk.
Strengthening Emergency Response
The Fire National Resilience programme was established following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, recognising the need for specialist personnel, capabilities and equipment to respond to major national emergencies.
The latest investment is intended to strengthen the UK’s ability to respond to large-scale incidents, including flash flooding, wildfires and structural collapses.
National Resilience specialist capabilities were deployed more than 1,000 times during 2025 alone, with wildfires identified as an increasingly significant operational challenge.
Strategic Locations
The new wildfire teams will be hosted by fire and rescue services in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Northumberland, London and South Wales.
The teams are expected to be fully deployable to incidents across England by the end of June, providing a dedicated national resource to support wildfire response during the peak fire season.
