Prince William has warned that climate change presents a “terrifying prospect” of more wildfires in the UK, saying preparation will be crucial. He made the comments during a visit to Treherbert in Rhondda Cynon Taf, where a major mountain fire threatened homes in August.
The Prince praised the effort to protect residents, land and property, and said the UK should take wildfires as seriously as other parts of Europe. He also raised the lack of firefighting aircraft as an issue, saying the need for aerial resources had become a prominent concern.
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 create fire breaks and supply 2.1 million litres of water. Among those deployed were 200 members of the Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment.
Aled Bound, a crew manager at Maesteg fire station and an on-call firefighter at Treorchy, described the season as the hardest he and his colleagues had faced. He said the work was mentally and physically draining, with fires relighting after crews had carried water up the mountain to tackle them.
National Fire Chiefs Council figures recorded 1,350 significant wildfires across England and Wales, more than 300 above the 2025 total and over 1,000 more than in 2024. William said 2026 was the first summer in which he had felt “generally worried” about the scale of wildfires in the country.
The Prince also spoke about the firefighting aircraft he flew during his three-year tour with the Search and Rescue team at RAF Valley, between 2010 and 2013. He recalled using Sea King helicopters to help put out fires in the Falklands and said the UK no longer had those assets after the aircraft were withdrawn.
Treherbert residents rallied to support the response. The local community centre, run by charity Valleys Kids, stayed open around the clock from Saturday evening until the following Thursday, serving as a hub for firefighters and volunteers. Local businesses donated food, including 40 pizzas that arrived within the first 20 minutes, according to the centre’s managing director, Kath Edwards.
Adam Openshaw, deputy chief fire officer for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said the community’s support helped crews focus on bringing the fire under control. He added that lessons from the season and wildfire summits would inform preparations. The UK Government has announced plans to equip RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft to fight fires, while a separate Welsh government summit also resulted in commitments to improve preparedness.
Sources: BBC News UK.