Staffordshire's fire service has reported a dramatic rise in emergency call-outs over the summer months, directly linking the surge to the impacts of climate change.
Sharp Rise in Incidents Driven by Dry Weather
Between April and September this year, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) responded to 5,409 incidents. This marks a significant increase from the 4,436 call-outs handled in the same period in 2024, representing a jump of nearly a thousand emergencies.
Chief Fire Officer Rob Barber stated that the spike was closely tied to the exceptionally hot and dry conditions, which began in February and persisted into October. He emphasised that this pattern is a clear indicator of a changing climate. "It used to be that we'd have a hot, dry summer once in 10 or 15 years – it seems to be every few years now," Barber explained.
Wildfires and Secondary Fires Fuel the Increase
The most dramatic growth was seen in secondary fires, which include grassland blazes, refuse fires, and fires in derelict buildings. These incidents, which typically do not threaten lives or property directly, soared by 68.1 per cent, from 1,067 last year to 1,794 this year.
Primary fires, which pose a greater risk, also rose from 673 to 728. Additionally, the service experienced a 19 per cent increase in road traffic collisions requiring their intervention, climbing from 364 to 433.
Despite extensive prevention work—including patrols in hotspot areas and community engagement—the extreme weather conditions led to a high number of outbreaks. "This is a clear sign of climate change," Barber asserted during a public performance session with Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams.
Operational and Financial Strain on Services
The unprecedented demand, which peaked in August with over 1,000 incidents, placed considerable pressure on response times. The average response time in August rose to 11 minutes and 32 seconds, up from 9 minutes and 55 seconds in August 2024. Overall, the service reached 79% of incidents within target times, just below its 80% goal.
The operational surge has also impacted finances. Chief Finance Officer David Greensmith reported a projected overspend of £400,000 on wages for the year, directly driven by the high activity levels, though the overall budget remains on target.
Looking ahead, CFO Barber warned that climate change is creating a year-round challenge for firefighters, increasing flood rescue operations in winter alongside summer wildfires. He expressed concern that fire services are not receiving specific funding to deal with this escalating climate-related workload.
"Climate change is hitting us all year round," he said, "whether it's the wildfires in the summer or the flooding in the winter, it's a constant that we need to keep on top of."
