Prince William has sounded the alarm on the growing danger of wildfires across the country. Speaking in Treherbert in Rhondda Cynon Taf, which faced a massive mountain blaze in August, he said preparing for these disasters is absolutely vital.
The hillside next to the local community centre where he met emergency crews, military personnel and volunteers is completely scorched. Prince William noted that 2026 was the first summer where he felt generally worried about the sheer scale of the blazes across the country.
Record fires and aircraft shortage
According to National Fire Chiefs Council figures, significant wildfires hit a record high of 1,350 across England and Wales. This was up by more than 300 on 2025 and over 1,000 on 2024, following dry conditions and record-breaking heat.
Prince William pointed out that aerial firefighting support is an area where the country is lacking. The prince, who flew Sea King helicopters with the Search and Rescue team at RAF Valley on Anglesey between 2010 and 2013, remembered using water bowsers to tackle fires in the Falklands.
The UK government recently stated that RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft will be fitted out to tackle blazes in the coming years.
“We need to start taking wildfires as seriously as the continent has done,”Prince William
Communities and troops unite
During the August emergency, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident while dealing with 14 wildfires simultaneously. Assistance came from 22 other UK fire services, along with soldiers, including 200 members of the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, who helped supply 2.1 million litres of water and dig fire breaks.
Locals also stepped up in a big way. Kath Edwards of the charity Valleys Kids said their building stayed open 24 hours a day to assist emergency workers. Local shops chipped in quickly, with 40 pizzas arriving in the first 20 minutes alongside visits from an ice cream van.
