William warns UK must prepare for more wildfires as climate changes risk

Prince William has warned that climate change could bring more severe wildfires to the UK, saying preparation will be crucial after fires threatened homes in south Wales this summer.

Visiting Treherbert in Rhondda Cynon Taf, where a mountain fire came within metres of the village in August, the Prince of Wales said the country needed to take wildfires “as seriously as the continent has done”. He also raised concerns about a lack of firefighting aircraft.

The National Fire Chiefs Council recorded 1,350 significant wildfires in England and Wales in 2026, a record and more than 300 above the 2025 total, according to the BBC. The fires came after months of record-breaking heat and dry conditions.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident in August as it responded to 14 wildfires at once. Support came from 22 other UK fire services, while soldiers helped dig fire breaks and supply water.

William said 2026 was the first summer in which he had felt “generally worried” about the scale of wildfires in the country. “We might go again next season… it’s quite a terrifying prospect if we’re not… on the ball,” he told firefighters.

He asked about the availability of aircraft, saying aerial resources were an area “we’re lacking”. The UK government has since announced plans to equip RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft to fight fires from the air.

Firefighters and local volunteers described the strain of the Treherbert fire. Aled Bound, an on-call firefighter, called it the hardest wildfire season he had faced and said some fires had reignited after crews spent hours carrying water up the mountain. Climate change, he said, “could well be a sign of what’s to come”.

Adam Openshaw, deputy chief fire officer for the service, said lessons from the season and wildfire summits would inform further action. Residents also rallied to support the response: a local community centre stayed open around the clock for six days, serving as a base for firefighters and volunteers.