Ryan Jenkinson via Getty ImagesAndy Burnham will chair a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee as the UK braces itself for another day of soaring temperatures which have led to widespread wildfires and plunged much of the country into drought. AdvertisementIt comes as a firefighter union chief warned the country faces a “national emergency” amid ongoing wildfires. A No.10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister will chair a meeting of COBR - the government emergency committee - this afternoon on the UK’s ongoing response to extreme heat, wildfires and drought. AdvertisementThe government urged the public to pay attention to UK Health Security Agency heat health alerts, and advised people should drink plenty of fluids and check in on family, friends and neighbours who may be at high risk. Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “In many parts of the country, firefighters do not have the new modern equipment to deal with these.