Around 200 military personnel have been deployed to South Wales to support emergency services tackling ten large fires, with troops providing logistics, planning support and assistance in difficult terrain.
Around 200 military personnel have been deployed to South Wales to support emergency services responding to ten large wildfires across the region, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The deployment followed a request from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service for logistical, operational and planning assistance as firefighting crews dealt with multiple major incidents. According to information released alongside Ministry of Defence imagery, around 100 personnel were initially sent to the area, with a further 100 expected to follow as the response was expanded.
The troops were drawn from one of the UK’s three standby battalions, which are maintained at high readiness to provide military assistance to emergency services and local authorities during major incidents. Personnel from 10 Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment are involved in the operation, with headquarters support being provided by 22 Royal Engineers.
The military’s principal task is logistical rather than frontline firefighting as soldiers are supporting the distribution of water and moving equipment, supplies and personnel between locations, allowing firefighters and specialist responders to concentrate on tackling the fires themselves. Military teams are also assisting emergency services in reaching remote and difficult terrain, where moving sufficient personnel and equipment can present an additional challenge during a large-scale response.
Images released by Defence on 15 August show soldiers from 10 Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment observing preparations by fire and rescue personnel before operations against the fires. The deployment is intended to increase the capacity available behind the frontline response, particularly where water, equipment and other supplies have to be moved rapidly between dispersed locations.
10 Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment forms part of the Royal Logistic Corps and provides logistic support to military operations. In South Wales, those capabilities are being applied in support of the civilian emergency response, with troops helping to maintain the movement of resources while fire crews remain committed to tackling the incidents.
The involvement of 22 Royal Engineers at headquarters level also provides additional planning and coordination capacity.
