// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Firefighters and public 'knowingly put at risk' during summer wildfires
Firefighters said this summer's wildfires were the worst they had experienced
Firefighters and the public were knowingly put at risk during this year's wildfires due to chronic underfunding, a union has said.
Those working on the ground and in the South Wales control centre said the fires were relentless with injuries "commonplace" for crews.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said firefighters were climbing hills in unsuitable boots and non-breathable layers used for house fires due to not having enough kit, and there is a "real risk to the public" if immediate action isn't taken.
The Welsh government said it doesn't provide the core funding but "recognise the concerns raised and are clear that we need to do all we can to reduce the risk of wildfires".
Sean says some injured firefighters from the wildfires are still not back at work
Sean Cayford, a firefighter in Bridgend, said crews were told in mid August that there were no pumps or fire appliances available across the brigade's entire region.
"I've never heard that before but that was heard again later in the wildfire season. That was startling," he said.
"One particular day we were at an incident on top of Tredegar mountain and as we looked around the landscape we could see in the region of six or seven other category three wildfires, the most serious type of wildfires, on the horizon in every direction you looked."
Sean said even with help from other brigades from all over the UK, they "still didn't have enough" firefighters.