Wildfire - where to next?


As Chairman of the England & Wales Wildfire Forum (EWWF) I have written to The Home Office and Defra to offer the support of the members of the Forum to review the state of preparedness and planning for wildfire.  From early reports coming from the well-publicised fires on Saddleworth Moor and Winter Hill in the South Pennines, I understand that the firefighting effort required to control the fires would have been much reduced if some precautions against wildfire had been in place.  The need to plan for wildfire is thrust of the EWWF's message, which has support from The Heather Trust and the rest of the wildfire community.  We should not be surprised by wildfire; we should accept that it will happen and plan accordingly.

It is not just in UK that major wildfire incidents have been occurring.  The BBC News summary provides a useful overview of the international situation and the horror of what has been happening in Greece, which has resulted in the death of at least 80 people, has been well covered in the media.  Again, BBC News has the latest summary.

There is a danger of thinking that the problems in Greece could not happen in the UK.  I think this is a dangerous and complacent view.  Also, the reports of what has happened in Greece illustrate that wildfire is not only a threat to remote rural areas - they can occur on the edge of rural areas and even in the middle of urban areas, where the risk of damage to property and loss of life is much higher.  The fire at Wanstead Flats on 15th July, an area of parkland in East London, required 40 fire engines to control it.

All the indications are that the risk of wildfire is likely to increase with the current climate change predictions.  The wildfire community has the knowledge and experience but the support from government is required to make sure that that our planning and preparedness matches this increasing risk.  

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