LAST summer was busy for Northumberland firefighters, as record temperatures sparked fires UK-wide.

The Government was warned more extreme weather linked to climate change means more fire risks to the public, and faces calls for more investment from the firefighters' union.

The Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service was called to 596 fires in 2022, across July, August and September.

131 were 'primary fires', which occur in a non-derelict building, vehicle or outdoor structure or involved a fatality, casualty, rescue, or were attended by five or more pumping appliances.

This coincides with last year's heatwave, which saw a record-breaking temperature of 40.3C. The Met Office revealed 2022 was England's joint-hottest summer recorded.

UK-wide, July to September saw more fires than any other three-month period for more than a decade with 68,278 recorded fires.

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England's total number of fires rose significantly, as Northumberland figures show a 42 per cent increase on the same period in 2021, when the fire service attended 420 fires.

This was a one per cent increase on the same period with 130 primary fires.

There were 464 secondary fires – generally small outdoor fires, not involving people or property – an increase of 62 per cent from 2021 with 286.

Northumberland's average response time for primary fires in 2022 was 12 minutes and nine seconds, a decrease on 2021, when average time was 11 minutes and 54 seconds.

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union said: "The Government has turned a blind eye to the obvious: the climate emergency means record breaking heatwaves. Rising temperatures mean an increase in dangerous fires. More fires mean more pressure on firefighters and our fire service.

"However, our fire service has been cut to the bone over the last decade, and 11,500 firefighter jobs have been slashed since 2010."

FBU members were to strike over ongoing pay disputes, after 88 per cent voted in favour of action. This was postponed, following an increased pay offer from fire and rescue service employers.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Government is committed to ensuring fire services have the resources they need to keep us safe, including from wildfires, and, overall, fire and rescue authorities received around £2.5 billion in 2022 to 2023."