LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) – Britain said on Thursday it would for the first time use military helicopters and aircraft to fight wildfires after its hottest summer on record, as the government steps up efforts to combat a threat it says is being fuelled by climate change.
• The Royal Air Force’s Chinook helicopters and A400M transport aircraft to be equipped with wildfire firefighting capability.
• The military aircraft are to be available to support emergency services battling blazes in remote areas.
• Government to provide up to £45 million ($60.15 million) for specialist response teams and firefighter equipment.
• Government to invest £25 million in peatland restoration and support farmers to reduce wildfire risk.
• New AI unit to be established to help predict and track wildfires.
• Government to work with the Met Office, Britain’s national meteorological service, to improve wildfire forecasting and risk assessment.
($1 = 0.7482 pounds)
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; editing by Michael Holden)
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