LONDON - Fire and rescue services are being stretched to breaking point because of the extreme weather conditions and government cuts, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said on Thursday.
The heatwave that engulfed much of the country this week, put great pressure on fire crews, the FBU said.
"Across the UK, fire and rescue services are once again dealing with a huge variety of extreme weather conditions," said FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack.
"Dry weather causing more and often huge fires is then replaced by lightning and flash flooding."
London and much of southern England and Wales has been baking in temperatures rising up to 32 degrees centigrade (90F).
But that was replaced torrential rain and thunderstorms across the country.
"Since last week, thousands of fire crews facing cuts in frontline services are putting in massive effort, suffering huge stress and being run ragged dealing with a massive increase in calls," Wrack said.
"We barely have enough resources to cope with the normal number of emergencies and we are now stretched to breaking point."
The FBU, which held a series of nationwide strikes in 2003, called for local authorities and the government to suspend plans to cut frontline services.
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