UK to create AI unit to tackle wildfires after record summer

The UK government will set up an AI Cobra unit in the National Situation Centre to detect wildfires early. Fire crews get £45m for wildfire-specific protective gear and £25m goes to restoring peatlands, with military aircraft made available to fight fires in hard-to-reach terrain.

• AI unit will sit in the National Situation Centre within the Cobra briefing rooms
• £45m allocated for wildfire-specific personal protective equipment for crews
• £25m to restore dried-out peatlands so they act as natural firebreaks
• Military planes and helicopters to help fight fires on remote moorland and hillsides