'Climate change is real and hitting us in terms of demand'

FIREFIGHTERS were called out to an extra thousand incidents over the first half of the year - largely due to the hot, dry summer.

- By PHIL CORRIGAN

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) responded to 5,409 calls between April and September, compared to 4,436 over the same period in 2024.

The increase was driven largely by a 68.1 per cent rise in secondary fires, which include most grass fires that do not require a major response.

Chief fire officer Rob Barber says the increasing number of wildfires seen in Staffordshire is evidence that 'climate change is real' with hot, dry summers now becoming increasingly common.

Over the six-month period, SFRS went to 1,794 secondary fires, which are generally small outdoor fires not involving people or property - up from 1,067 last year.

The number of primary fires increased by a smaller amount, from 673 to 728. And there was also a 19 per cent increase in road traffic incidents attended by firefighters - from 364 to 433.