The earliest harvest in 20 years, the driest summer since records began, and wildfires becoming a serious reality for several parts of the UK, in addition to the scenes from France and Spain.
Looking at the news reports from several of these events, the number of farmers with slurry tankers and bowsers providing an off-road water delivery service highlighted, once again, the community spirit and integration of agriculture when it's needed, but also how agriculture already has some of the kit to solve these problems, albeit with some modifications required.
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Understandably, we do not have an expansive UK fleet of off-road firefighting vehicles because we have not needed them. But with changing climates and an increasing risk of drought, do we need to encourage wider integration between farmers and firefighters to provide the logistical support they need to fight fast-moving and unpredictable wildfires?
Unless they are also a retained firefighter, farmers and contractors are not a replacement for trained firefighters, but if the core role of assisting the fire service during major rural incidents could be made easier with some hydraulic pumps, high-volume tanks, off-road access and firebreak earthmoving, it seems farmers could provide support through using the skills and equipment they already have and potentially make a real difference.
