Tag: Wildfire

New charity set up to support growing fight against wildfires

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

For a group of fire-fighters and countryside rangers, the fire which raged across the North York Moors last summer was a particularly painful watch.

An area they had tended to for more than 12 years left charred and lifeless, and a fire far bigger than anything they had come across in decades, almost too much to handle.

In the aftermath, and knowing fine well with climate change, it could easily happen again, they wanted to help.

Jay Marrison had been a ranger for North York Moors National Park for 12 years, and on top of that has run his own countryside management business for the last 11 years.

With wildfire training and equipment of his own, he wanted to help and came up with the idea of starting a wildfire charity.

It has taken a year to get the paperwork and practicalities in place and the Wildfire Response Team is now looking for more volunteers to get involved, and funding to get them trained, with a view to being operational by the new year.

With the Langdale and Fylingdales Moor fire of 2025 being the biggest in the region’s history, and a 2026 where more than 90 square miles of the UK were affected by wildfire, it a problem which will return next spring and summer.

Jay Marrison, founder of The Wildfire Response Team. Picture: Ceri Oakes

Jay said: “I grew up in a little village, have always worked outside and when you see it burning, you get invested. That was my old patch as a ranger and I wanted to do something to help.

“We have had the hottest summer for a few years and next summer will be hotter. We are all having to think about the impact of climate change.”

The Wildfire Response Team is far from a replacement, or instead of, statutory fire and rescue services, both here in North Yorkshire or anywhere else across the country, the team is keen to stress.

In fact, the organisation has been devised with the blessing of fire chiefs and built around some of the challenges North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service told Jay it had faced.

He explained: “We wanted to ensure anything we set up, they were in support of and could see the benefit of.

“When we liaised with NYFRS, it said it struggled to get access to drones, welfare units and the ability to move staff and resources on and off the moors quickly without pulling a fire engine off the scene.”

Covering these issues and practical jobs such as bringing water and food for crews, as well as fuel for vehicles, are roles the charity will undertake should the need arise.

It has had three drones donated as well as volunteer pilots, acquired a vehicle capable of off-roading and around 40 people have volunteered to help with various aspects of the charity.

Jay Marrison, with the Wildfire Response Team off-road vehicle. Picture: Ceri Oakes

Two of them are Chris Barker and Andy Cooke, who between them have served as volunteer fire-fighters at Goathland Fire Station for almost 40 years.

Chris, who was part of the huge fire-fighting effort, said: “It was a very big forest fire and we knew, if it got onto the wider moors, there was no stopping it. 

“If the ordnance had not been there it would have been damping down, but it was all the perfect storm for it to get away.

“When we turned up, we could just see a huge amount of forest on fire, didn’t know how big it was, couldn’t get around it and needed a drone. The fire service didn’t have one and the police one was being used.”

Andy added: “Fires are going to be an increasing problem each year and it is not just about the fires, communities are at risk now. We are not turning up and taking over, we are a support service, that is why we are here.”

It took six months to get charity status because there were no other charities in England and Wales proposing to do what the Wildfire Response Team were wanting to do.

After many questions, assurances and processes, status was granted in March of this year and since then it has been full steam ahead recruiting volunteers, applying for funding and visiting country and agricultural shows – including the Great Yorkshire Show, Ryedale and Goathland – to raise awareness and make useful contacts.

The charred landscape on Fylingdales Moor following last summer’s wildfires. Picture: submitted

Jay’s wife Sarah, who works in the voluntary sector and has done much of the application process, said: “We are very lucky people like Chris Barker and Andy Cooke have direct fire-fighting experience. That gives us credibility and experience to draw from, as there will be people who don’t have that experience and we will train them, but we didn’t expect to have so many people apply this quickly.”

Volunteers have all sorts of backgrounds, skills and qualifications and want to ‘give something back’ following the heroic efforts of fire crews, farmers and game-keepers to stop people and property succumbing to last summer’s unprecedented fire.

Jay Marrison, founder of The Wildfire Response Team with his wife Sarah, team member, Andy Cook, Chris Barker and Wayne Elliott. Picture: Ceri Oakes

Jay added: “We have a couple of people who have always wanted to look at being on-call fire-fighters but the commitment was too much. This, for them, is a way of doing a bit of that.

“Some people don’t want to be anywhere near a fire but can help with logistics, welfare, or even running a coffee morning or a tombola for fundraising – it all comes together.

“Our vision for this charity is to complement the work of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service but the eventual aim is to have locally based teams across the northern uplands, like Mountain Rescue Teams are and under the umbrella of the Wildfire Response Team.

“We need to prove it works first and then roll it out.”

Find out more about getting involved with the team here

“We all know there will be more fires on the North York Moors. It is all but inevitable.”

Whitby Anchor by Contributor

Have I understood this correctly? The government has decided the farmers and gamekeepers who saved our skins during the Langdale fire of last year will not receive compensation, not a penny. Nothing for the risks they took to contain the fire, their time, their weeks of unremitting hard work.

And now we have news of the nightmare wildfires in Spain, Wales and Derbyshire. We all know there will be more fires on the North York Moors. It is all but inevitable. So why are the farmer heroes of last year’s fire, the biggest, most damaging fire to date, not being compensated at government level, leaving local councils to step in with one-off funds?  

Alison Hume, our MP for Whitby and Scarborough said it was “disappointing” and is lobbying hard for a robust framework to deal with future fires. I doubt that “disappointing” is what the farmers thought.

At a public meeting in March at the Rifle Club, the Fire Service officers gave a presentation on the progress of the fire and the issues the combined agencies had faced in tackling the blaze. The skeleton notes of the meeting are available on the Whitby Community Network website. Among the attendees was a small group of farmers who had physically fought the fire. Plenty had gone well, but there were lessons to be learned.  

What I remember most about the meeting, and which still occupies my thoughts, was the raw anger and deep frustration of the farmers at what had not gone well. They spoke of their fears for their livestock, of teenage sons working alone non-stop to protect their farms, of cutting what ended up as 17 km of firebreaks and of the misunderstandings. 

And now, a few months later, there’s no compensation.

How can it be that there is nothing at all for the efforts and damage sustained by the very people who know the moors the best, who have the knowledge, who understand the moors, who knew how the wind was going to carry the fire, understood how the topography would direct the fire, who knew where the old tracks not shown on standard maps were so that water could be transported across the otherwise vehicle-inaccessible moorland to fight the fire?

Protecting RAF Fylingdales had to be first priority. You read that the facility is crucial as the UK’s main incoming missile-warning station and that if fire had breached the perimeter, it could have had catastrophic consequences for the country’s security. The base has its own fire service, manned 24 h. The farmers told of beating back the fire very near to the perimeter, and being able to look over at the RAF Fylingdales’ security vehicles and occupants. Not every wildfire has a Fylingdales in the middle of it or the additional complication of explosions from old WWII munitions sunk deep in the turf. Given that the farmers’ efforts were also contributing to maintaining national security, it is even more incomprehensible that they have been completely left out from government compensation.

Ruth Denison, Whitby

To submit a letter to the editor please email info@thewhitbyanchor.co.uk

Devastating impact of wildfires still felt say businesses as council steps in with grant

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

North Yorkshire Council has stepped in to help businesses affected by last summer’s wildfires after the government ruled they would not qualify for compensation.

Grants of up to £2,500 are being made available to businesses that qualify, with the prospect of an additional hardship support payment of up to £12,000.

The money is to provide financial support for businesses, which had to be evacuated during the blaze on Fylingdales Moor, the biggest wildfire in the region’s history.

Confirmed as having been started in Langdale Forest by a cooking or campfire, it spread to ten square miles of moorland and was perilously close to spreading towards rural villages and businesses – one of which was Grouse Hill Caravan Park, off the A171 Whitby to Scarborough road.

Owners Andrew and Caroline Butterfield have long since fought for the financial impact on businesses to be recognised as they had to evacuate and close their caravan site, with future bookings being cancelled.

Along with their two children, William, aged 18, and 16-year-old Amelia they had to flee the site with their pets and leave everything else behind.

Mr Butterfield said: “The funding that the council has provided is extremely welcome, and it is giving us much-needed financial support as the effects of the wildfire are still very much evident a year on.

“Everyone who was affected by the fire has in the back of their minds that this could happen again, especially when we experience the extremely warm weather conditions we have seen this summer.”

Mrs Butterfield added: “The fire had such a devastating environmental impact on the moors, but it is also the psychological effects it’s had on the communities here. The council has shown it is committed to helping the communities that were affected, and that makes a big difference knowing the support is there.”

A firefighter is pictured dousing moorland on Fylingdales Moor last summer with flames from the wildfire visible on the horizon. Picture: Paul Edwards.

North Yorkshire Council (NYC) has made the financial pledges and is working with the Two Ridings Community Foundation to provide a one-off and targeted offer to local businesses directly affected by the wildfire in light of the government ruling.

NYC leader, Coun Carl Les, said the funding was unprecedented but warned the authority can’t help every time, calling on better government support.

He said: “We are committed to supporting our communities, but I cannot stress enough that this funding has been made available due to unprecedented circumstances surrounding the Fylingdales Moor blaze.

“As a council, we will not be able to repeatedly step in to provide financial support in the future at a time when our budgets are under intense pressure and demand for our services is increasing.

“The Government needs to look very closely at how it can support communities and businesses affected by natural disasters across the country.

“There is a compelling argument that national policies do need to be reviewed as the sad but undeniable truth is that the Fylingdales Moor fire will prove not to be a one-off.”

A sign warning of the extreme danger of fires in the North York Moors National Park. In the background are scorched earth and trees from the wildfire that swept across Fylingdales Moor last summer. Picture: submitted

The council has lobbied the Government to try to secure compensation for businesses affected by the wildfire to mirror the support that is available following flooding events.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is providing £3.2m to the North York Moors National Park Authority to help to restore the moorlands which were the scene of the wildfire last summer.

However, Ministers have confirmed that there will not be any financial support available to businesses affected.

Coun Les said: “We are disappointed that the Government hasn’t extended financial support to businesses after we had asked for compensation from Westminster to support those people and enterprises affected.

“We are continuing to offer to work with the Government to draw on our own experiences in North Yorkshire to help to develop a plan for dealing with the aftermath of disasters such as the Fylingdales Moor fire.

“I would ask that Ministers carefully consider the way forward, and make sure that there is a clear and defined path to help to support any communities or businesses that will be so gravely affected by natural disasters in the future.”

Forestry England reviews wildfire policy as report reveals it was monitoring original Langdale fire

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

Forestry England says it is reviewing its wildfire contingency plan after documents revealed it was aware of and monitoring the fire in Langdale Forest before it spread across the moors.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s de-brief into the wildfire confirmed, already widely known locally, that the initial fire was actually reported on June 26, whereas other reports say the main fire started on August 11.

The fire service report states the June fire wasn’t fully put out due to it being hard to access on foot with limited water available, and evidence of deep-seated burning in the peat.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue (NYFRS) contained it with natural and man-made fire breaks, excavation and drainage works and formally handed the incident back to Forestry England on July 4.

On August 11 the fire jumped the fire breaks and two days later a major incident was declared. 

When Forestry England was asked in September last year if it was aware of the fire before August 11, it said: “The current fire incident at Fylingdales Moor was notified to Forestry England on Monday 11th August.”

However, the de-brief report, published last week, said: “Once the fire had been assessed as contained within these established control measures, a formal external handover was completed on 4 July 2025, transferring responsibility for the incident to Forestry England.”

Following the debrief publication, The Whitby Anchor asked Forestry England again when it was first aware of a wildfire.

A spokesperson said: “There was a long time between the fires and until the FRS (fire and rescue service) formally investigated the fire, no-one knew if they were two separate fires or the same one from over a month earlier, so our statement at the time was accurate. The investigation and cause reports show the fire spread after we visited the forest on 11 August and was likely the same fire.”

They added: “The only advice given to us in the handover was to call the fire service if the fire spread beyond the firebreak. We are not trained firefighters and do not have firefighting equipment. We were not given any other advice although we agreed to keep an eye on the area.”

The 50-page de-brief set out 21 recommendations and a number of learning points to improve the fire service’s resilience and capacity to tackle wildfires, which it says are becoming “more frequent, more complex and more demanding”.

One of the points is that when a fire site is handed back to an organisation, it “should have a shared understanding of its role and responsibilities in the ongoing management of risk.”

The report has drawn attention from politicians with calls for lessons to be learned from the fires, which burned ten square miles of moorland, led to businesses being evacuated, losses of grazing land and livestock and roads being closed.

The cause of the fire is believed to be cooking using a naked flame, such as a campfire or gas burner, all of which are not allowed in forestry areas.

Forestry England added: “It is important to remember the reports also concluded that this awful fire was caused by someone having a BBQ or campfire that are not allowed in the forest.

“We are: revising our wildfire contingency plan in Yorkshire, including updating the map that shows assets that will support the FRS to respond to wildfires such as water supplies; updating staff training in wildfire incident management, including the specific role of liaising with the FRS and building a closer relationship with FRS and the Local Resilience Forum.”

Whitby MP: Bravery of farmers, fire-fighters and keepers needs to be met with authority action

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

The MP for Whitby and Scarborough has set up a new parliamentary group to look into wildfires in the aftermath of last summer’s fires on the moors.

Alison Hume and other local politicians have given their verdicts on the way the Langdale and Fylingdales Moors fires were dealt with following the publication of a full de-brief report by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS).

The report set out 21 recommendations for the fire service to take to change and improve its position on tackling wildfires in the region.

She said the new All Party Parliamentary Group for wildfires will call for evidence on matters such as controlled burning policy, resilience and public health.

Ms Hume said “the stakes could not have been higher” as the fire burned ten square miles of moorland and was heading towards RAF Fylingdales, which serves as a ballistic missile early warning system for the UK and the US, as well as playing a vital role in Space Command.

Referring to the work of fire crews, farmers, gamekeepers and volunteers, Ms Hume said it was a fire which “demanded courage”. However, she added, that bravery needs to be met with action from those in authority.

Ms Hume said: “The Local Resilience Forum (LRF) and NYFRS reports set out clear recommendations, and they must be delivered in full. Stronger partnerships will ensure a faster, sharper and better coordinated response if there is a repeat incident.

“As a parliamentarian, I am setting-up a brand new All Party Parliamentary Group on wildfires to call for evidence on matters such as controlled burning policy, resilience and public health.”

She demanded the hotline she called for three times last summer to pass information about evacuation to panicked residents to actually happen in future incidents, and added she will continue to campaign for a grant framework which compensates farmers and businesses affected by wildfires, like the one for floods.

Ms Hume added: “I look forward to working with York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, NYFRS, other stakeholders and the public to ensure when the next wildfire happens, as it inevitably will, we can meet it having learnt the lessons of last summer.”

Meanwhile, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and his deputy have said “goodwill” can’t be relied upon as incidents on the scale of the Fylingdales Moor “can no longer be treated as rare or exceptional”.

Mayor David Skaith and Jo Coles, deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime said: “The lessons from this incident are clear, we need stronger resilience, better coordination and a more robust approach to preventing, responding to and recovering from major wildfires.”

They have asked the Local Resilience Forum – a partnership which brings together organisations when there is a major incident or emergency – for more information on a number of issues.

They are whether it will consider escalating decision making, ensuring fire-fighting resources are available and quickly, having an automatic resilience plan when fire is near national infrastructure, making recommendations about the public health impact of wild fires, maintaining limited road access instead of a blanket closure and to have co-ordinated communications to ensure there is a trusted source of information for the public.

It has been confirmed that the fire which burned across the North York Moors for months was started by a camp fire to cook food.

While it wasn’t a disposable barbecue, Mr Skaith said they pose a clear risk and is calling for them to be banned.

He and Ms Coles have written to local supermarkets asking them not to sell them.

Mr Skaith added: “I’m pleased that some have responded positively, but right now you can still pick one up in supermarkets just minutes’ drive from our precious countryside. It’s time to ban disposable barbecues and take action to protect our most precious natural assets.”

Raft of 21 recommendations for fire service improvement in aftermath of last summer’s wildfire

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has come up with a raft of more than 20 recommendations to improve its response, preparedness and resilience to wildfire as a direct result of moors fires which burned near Whitby throughout last summer.

The Langdale/Fylingdales Moor Wildfire Major Incident Debrief was published yesterday by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS).

The lengthy list for recommendations refer to the need to review wildfire planning assumptions, fuel loads, access to moorland and water sources; strengthen training on wildfire competence; consider wildfire specific PPE; to develop a pre-planned rota and staffing model for prolonged incidents as well as food, welfare and support arrangements for crews involved; improve availability of wildfire risk data; and better communicate information, warnings and manage mis-information with the public.

In total there are 21 recommendations, some of which will be applicable to other fire and rescue services across the country in being better prepared for the wildfire risk, which is increasing in the UK.

Opening the report, Chief Fire Officer Jonathan Dyson said: “This report offers a clear and objective assessment of our response. It identifies effective practice, while also setting out areas for improvement. 

“This reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous organisational learning. While the response was effective, incidents of this nature reinforce the need to continually strengthen our preparedness, interoperability and coordination. 

“We will ensure that learning is not only identified, but embedded, translating into practical, sustained improvements in how we plan for and respond to complex, protracted incidents.”

The report goes on to say there will be a structured improvement programme, and each recommendation and associated action will be allocated to a named Senior Responsible Owner (SRO). They will be accountable for making sure actions are progressed and outcomes delivered. 

The blaze, which charred more than ten square miles of moorland near Sneaton, was the largest ever wildfire in the recorded history of the North York Moors National Park.

NYFRS says it was one of the most significant incidents it has ever faced. The fire-fighting effort required invaluable help from farmers and game-keepers as well as fire crews who were drafted in from around the country.

As well as tackling the wildfire in extremely hot summer weather, fire-fighters, farmers and game-keepers faced both exploded and unexploded ordnance left from a military training camp on the moors which operated in the 1940s and 1950s. 

The issue of PPE is raised in the report as standard issue PPE is not suitable for prolonged use in high temperatures like those experienced last summer. During the fire, crews had to make their own adaptations which put them at “increased exposure to heat, smoke, debris and ultra violet radiation”, the report says.

Land management practices are also called into question with the report saying, “the  presence of large volumes of continuous vegetation fuel and very few natural barriers meant the fire spread more quickly and covered a much larger area.”

It is suggested fire-fighters develop skills in back-burning, a method of controlled burning used on moors to reduce vegetation and fuel load. However, while the moors fire was still being fought, Defra approved proposals to reduce the scope for controlled burning, saying it would protect both the environment and public health, despite warnings from experts.

NYFRS repeats in its de-brief report, land management is vital to addressing wildfire risk and behaviour and, in the case of Langdale and Fylingdales, vegetation such as grass and heather sped up the movement of the fire.

The report said: “These risks are particularly relevant in North Yorkshire, given the scale of its moorland, peatland and National Park environments, including the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales. These landscapes contain large areas of continuous fuel, often in remote locations with limited access, increasing both the likelihood of wildfire and the potential for rapid and sustained fire spread.”

It goes on to say: “The incident reinforced the importance of the National Fire Chiefs Council “NFCC) Wildfires Position Statement11, which identifies wildfires as a growing national resilience risk and emphasises land management, fuel reduction, partnership working and shared responsibility as critical to prevention, preparedness, response and long-term resilience.”

The fire service has called for landowners and environmental agencies to also be involved in being resilient to wildfires as it can’t be done by the fire service alone.

In its report conclusion, a spokesperson for NYFRS added: “The Fylingdales Moor wildfire represents one of the most significant and complex wildfire incidents managed by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. 

“It required a sustained, coordinated and adaptable multi-agency response under challenging environmental, geographic and operational conditions. 

“Despite this complexity, the overall outcome was positive. There was no loss of life, no serious injury, and critical national infrastructure, communities and property were protected. 

“Wildfires are becoming more frequent, more complex and more demanding, influenced by climate, land conditions and fuel continuity. 

“Wildfire risk must be understood and managed as a shared system responsibility. Effective mitigation and future resilience will depend on continued collaboration between Fire and Rescue Services, landowners, environmental partners and the wider Local Resilience Forum.”

Government snubs bid to compensate local farmers and businesses affected by wildfires

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

The government has snubbed a compensation campaign for farmers and businesses affected by wildfires across the North York Moors last summer – as it awards the national park more than £3m to restore landscapes.

The North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum (NYLRF) – made up of local emergency services, local authorities, businesses and voluntary organisations – had argued that had the emergency been a flooding incident, a government framework would have made funding available to help people and businesses recover.

It has been preparing the case for compensation since November and found out recently it had been turned down.

However, a spokesperson for the NYLRF said: “Our position has always been that, had this been a flooding incident, a government framework would have unlocked funds, and we have, and will continue to make the case for wildfires to be treated in the same way.”

Alison Hume, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said she was disappointed and it was a case if when, not if, the moors will be affected by wildfires again.

She said: “I will keep working on this so that the next time, and there unfortunately will be a next time, there’s a wildfire there is a recovery grant scheme in place for businesses and farmers.”

Meanwhile, it was announced today that Defra is providing up to £3.2m to the North York Moors National Park Authority (NYMNPA) to restore moorland and peatland.

The funding will repair 17 kilometres of firebreaks dug to contain the blaze, stabilise damaged slopes, restore key peatland species such as sphagnum moss and reinstate public rights of way across the moor.

Lilla Cross, a way marker, dating back to the 10th century on the North York Moors. Lilla is the oldest marker of its type and survived the fire. Picture: Submitted

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said: “The Fylingdales wildfire was an unprecedented event that caused serious and lasting damage to one of England’s most treasured landscapes. This funding will help bring the moorland back to life – restoring the deep peat that stores carbon, supports rare wildlife, and protects communities downstream.

“Resilient, rewetted peatland is our best natural defence against wildfires in the future, and I am determined that this landscape recovers stronger than before.”

NYMNPA is working with Natural England, Historic England, the Strickland Estate, the Duchy of Lancaster Estate, the Fyling Court Leet and Fylingdales Moor ESS Ltd, to oversee recovery and ensure work is carefully coordinated.

Forestry England has also begun a targeted programme of work to restore firebreaks, rehabilitate damaged forest environments, and recover sensitive conservation areas affected by the wildfire. 

It was within Forestry England managed land, Langdale Forest, where the fire broke out. The cause has since been confirmed as being cooking with a campfire or gas burner.

North York Moors National Park Authority CEO Tom Hind said the organisation was indebted to farmers, land managers and the fire service for their work in eventually stopping the blaze which burned for more than a month across ten square miles.

He said: “Last year’s wildfire brought home the increasing risks that wildfire poses. It took a monumental team effort from fire and rescue services, local farmers and land managers and local agencies to extinguish and we remain indebted to them for their commitment.

“Fylingdales Moor is home to a wide variety of rare and precious habitats and wildlife and it’s vital that we not only restore these habitats but build in long-term resilience to climate change. This funding is a significant step forward in helping us address the long-term impacts of the Fylingdales Moor wildfire and we’re grateful to Government for recognising both the scale of the damage and the importance of restoring this nationally significant landscape.

“This investment will enable us to begin repairing the extensive firebreaks that were created to contain the blaze, re-establishing peatland habitats, stabilising vulnerable areas and creating a landscape that is better able to withstand the challenges posed by a changing climate.”

The government funding will complement additional match funding associated with Anglo American’s Woodsmith and ICL’s Boulby mines, which will support habitat restoration within the wider recovery programme, alongside contributions secured from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The NYMNPA is also leading a partnership, with North Yorkshire Council, Forestry England, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, to deliver a focused awareness campaign this summer on human actions that could result in wildfire.

The ‘Don’t Spark Disaster’ campaign, features impactful educational messages to remind potential visitors and residents that a small action or a tiny object can be a cause of fire. 

Deadly wildfire risk for Whitby ranked as one of highest in country

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

Whitby has been ranked in the top ten per cent of UK parliamentary constituencies most at risk of deadly wildfire.

The Moorland Association has compiled a league table of the UK’s 650 constituencies and where they place in terms of risk. Scarborough and Whitby is listed as 45th.

Rankings have been based on ten criteria including the amount of vegetation, exposure, its proximity to homes and the difficulty of evacuating people.

The Moorland Association (MA) has submitted the document to The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) after it put out a call for evidence last month as part of its long-term inquiry into Climate and Weather Resilience.

Whitby and Scarborough’s place, in the top seven percent of at risk areas, comes as consequences of the Langdale/Fylingdales Moor fire are still being felt.

The North York Moors burned for more than 40 days last summer when the fire – confirmed to have been started by cooking using a naked flame, campfire or gas burner – raged across ten square miles near Sneaton.

Land is still scorched and recovering from the 2025 wildfires. Picture: Ceri Oakes

The fires were tackled by local full-time, part-time and voluntary fire crews as well as local farmers and game-keepers.

As they risked their lives, day and night for days on end, local residents and businesses did what they could by donating food and drinks, as well as more than £70,000 in a CrowdFunder campaign.

The government inquiry is also seeking information specific to wildfires.

The inquiry will explore the effectiveness of national strategies, adequacy of current systems to protect people, places and nature and the government’s capacity to respond to and recover from major emergencies which cause environmental damage.

The capacity of local authorities, emergency services, and communities to prepare for and deal with events like wild fire will also come under scrutiny.

The chief officer of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has previously said resources need to change to tackle the growing issue of wildfires in the region.

Speaking at a public meeting in Whitby earlier this year, Jonathan Dyson, said the service is reviewing and strengthening wildfire provision, increasing numbers of specialist wildfire teams, enhancing equipment, vehicles and protective clothing, and putting formal agreements in place with partner organisations for major incident support.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue says resources need to change to tackle wildfires.

Andrew Gilruth, chief executive of the MA told The Anchor, the risk surrounding our area is “complicated”.
He said: “From a local perspective, the risk we face around Scarborough and Whitby is a series of complicated factors, some of which we cannot change.

“We can’t change the housing or the roads or footpaths really. Some factors would take a huge amount to adjust. Getting more fire-fighters is possible but will take more time and somebody has to pay for that.

“What we can do whilst we start looking at the medium to long term, keeps coming back to listening to farmers and gamekeepers, listening to the Fire and Rescue service and what they said after the Langdale and Fylingdales fire.

“Why won’t we let them manage the fuel load and keep the risk down? They had to dig a 29km motorway to create a trench to stop that fire from spreading – that is not good enough.

“For generations farmers and gamekeepers did all this for free and didn’t send a bill to the tax payer. Now we live in a world where officials with clipboards are stopping them from doing what they have done for generations.”

Written submissions on wildfire management are being invited from affected communities, local authorities and emergency services, industry representatives, environmental and cultural bodies, academics and members of the public.

EFRA had set a deadline of this Friday for responses but has extended it to Monday May 18 at 12pm – after recognising many of the people it wants to hear from are currently out fighting wildfires.

The government department says that last year, wildfires burned the largest recorded area of land since monitoring began in 2012, and more than double the area affected during the previous record-breaking year of 2022.

Climate change means wildfires are now six times more likely than they used to be, with EFRA arguing wildfires happen more in spring than summer due to burning of vegetation by landowners, dry and dead vegetation left from winter and visitor pressures.

EFRA Committee Chair Alistair Carmichael said: “From Northumberland to London, fears of wildfires are spreading as records are broken year on year.

“The wheels of Government turn slowly, so it is essential ministers get to work now on developing reliable systems that can meet these growing threats.

“We want to hear from experts in this field and organisations who care for their landscapes, as well as public services who face wildfires annually and have tools and strategies to prevent and contain them.
“With so many local and national organisations with a role to play, it is paramount that we have clear lines of responsibility and joined-up thinking.”

The committee is also going to be looking at how other countries prepare and mitigate wildfire risks to people, property, plant and animal life.

Other research by the MA estimates the average cost of a UK wildfire is £10,000 per hectare when all impacts are accounted for.

This includes costs of fire-fighting and emergency response, damage to land and wildlife, health impacts from smoke pollution, restoration of infrastructure and lost income to farms and tourism.

With 10 square miles equivalent to around 2,590 hectares, this puts the cost of damage of last summer’s fires near Whitby at £25.9m, the campaign group added.

Whitby Anchor