FIREFIGHTERS on the frontline had to call in outside help due to cutbacks to tackle raging wildfires, say union bosses.
Crews from the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service fought devastating blazes this week, first at Lickey Hills, then at Hartlebury Common.
A local Fire Brigades Union representative had said outside help was required for some responses because of previous service cutbacks.
The FBU said firefighters were angry the demands of the job were increasing but resources have been slashed by Government cuts.
However, fire service bosses say it is incorrect to say they did not have enough crews to respond locally and an arrangement is in place so the closest resources available are dispatched to deal with any emergency.
MORE STORIES
Thieves try their luck breaking into as many cars as possible
Mum's stolen phone had treasured photos of her children
Firefighters in the two counties received 74 callouts between 7am on Friday, July 15 and 7am on Wednesday, July 20 about fires in the open or similar blazes involving standing corn, crops or rubbish.
Fire chiefs locally and nationally have acknowledged that pressure on the service during the heatwave has been 'unprecedented'.
Dry and hot conditions have made the job even harder as temperatures soared during a two-day, rare red 'extreme heat' warning from the Met Office, issued for Monday and Tuesday.
The mercury climbed to a record 37.1C in Worcester, the hottest day in the city's history, breaking the previous record from August 1990.
Meanwhile, temperatures of over 40C were reached for the first time in other parts of England.
MORE STORIES
Dramatic photos of huge fire near Worcester
Big fires in heatwave heap extra pressure on firefighters
Neil Bevan, brigade secretary for Hereford and Worcester, said both firefighters and control staff had been stretched by recent callouts in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
He said: "Although a major incident wasn't declared, our control staff were stretched and taking calls on behalf of other brigades including London and Greater Manchester.
"We needed assistance from neighbouring brigades as we didn't have sufficient crews to deal with the range of incidents - these included a large fire on the Lickey Hills, RTCs and multiple house fires."
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: "As the UK experiences record heat, firefighters and control staff have been stretched to the limit, responding to wildfires and other incidents as the country faces record temperatures.
"16 fire and rescue services declared major incidents, highlighting the scale of the challenges firefighters and control have faced. Each of these services have had firefighter numbers slashed.
"Cuts have stretched the fire service’s ability to respond. Firefighters are working in extreme heat and conditions for excessive periods of time. Employers have had to ask people to give up leave to assist because of staff shortages. There have been a number of injuries to FBU members over the past two days, including hospitalisations."
He added: “Firefighters are at the forefront of the climate emergency. The demands of the job are increasing but our resources have been under attack by government cuts for over a decade. 11,500 firefighter jobs have been slashed since 2010.
"We have warned of the growing threat for years but our concerns have fallen on deaf ears. The brutal truth is that government ministers and Chief Fire Officers have ignored the warning signs which have been obvious for all to see.
"There is a growing anger at the way firefighters have been treated for more than a decade and at the way our service is being dismantled in front of our eyes.”
The cause of the fires at Hartlebury and the Lickey Hills remains under investigation by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.
At the height of the Lickey Hills fire, 12 fire engines were at the scene.
Despite all the local fires, firefighters from Worcestershire still offered assistance to tackle fires in London after the fire brigade there declared a major incident.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Keith Chance of the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: “This week has seen unprecedented temperatures creating arduous working conditions for all staff and I’d personally like to thank everyone for their hard work.
"HWFRS along with many other services saw a marked increase in the number of incidents being attended on the two days of the extreme temperatures and these have now returned to normal.
“While the number of incidents involved a significant amount of our resources, it is incorrect to say that we didn't have sufficient crews to deal with the range of incidents.
"We send the closest resources to any incident and when these occur on or close to our borders with other fire and rescue services we have agreements in place to allow this to happen and to maintain sufficient emergency cover across the two counties.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here