No helicopters to fight wildfires as 'crisis management' plans activated in Wales
The Welsh government has activated crisis management plans to address widespread wildfires across the nation. Despite public outcry and a petition for aerial support, officials state that no helicopters are currently available in the UK and emphasize that ground-level firefighting remains the primary strategy.
Why it matters
The lack of aerial firefighting resources highlights potential gaps in emergency infrastructure and resource allocation during extreme weather events.
Figure caption, Aerial view of the wildfires in Trawsfynydd
The Welsh government has activated "crisis management arrangements" due to the number of wildfires across the nation.
It comes amid criticism from residents over a lack of resources like helicopters to tackle the fires, some of which have been burning for days across north and south Wales.
The Welsh government said North Wales Fire and Rescue had received extra resources but aerial support was not available anywhere in the UK.
However, it said "urgent discussions are now underway both within Wales and at a UK level to identify how this can be resolved".
Meanwhile, firefighters are tackling a big blaze in south Wales for a third day, with the smoke travelling 30 miles (48km) away.
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