Wildfires

Our rural communities are those that are most at risk from wildfire, with large areas of dry grass, scrubland, and woodland. Wildfires can spread rapidly, especially during hot, dry conditions.

Fires in fields and woodland close to homes can result in property damage and the need to evacuate residents. Water supplies in rural areas can often be more limited in both coverage and the amount of water available.

Wildfires can also be difficult to reach due to rough terrain, limited road access, and the fact that they can be spread over a large area.

What we do to reduce the impact:

Work with landowners, partner agencies and communities to better manage green spaces, reducing the risk of fires spreading to homes and other buildings.

Carry out wildfire awareness campaigns with people who live in or visit the countryside.

Providing guidance on best practice and safety for controlled burns.

Ensure the latest information is on our website to support rural communities.

New actions to deliver our plan:

Engage with land and property owners to help mitigate the impact wildfire has on communities through the Firewise UK initiative.
Develop and implement a wildfire prevention plan aimed at reducing the likelihood and impact of wildfires starting (e.g. geographical areas of risk, malicious ignition, discarded glass, fires in the open etc).
Work with agricultural leaders (including National Farmers Union) to understand the scale of the damage they experience and how we can better support rural communities.
Improve information sharing with partner organisations and communities to better manage wildfires that might impact on homes. For example, by improving preparedness and land management to reduce the risk of wildfires spreading to buildings and other property.