VallumVoice

The England & Wales Wildfire Forum met in Wrexham today, and it was valuable that the Scottish Wildfire Forum was represented at the meeting by the chairman, Bruce Farquharson from Scottish Fire & Rescue Service. This helped to support my view that wildfire requires a UK-wide approach, and the developing interest from Northern Ireland in the work of both Forums is also very welcome. We covered a lot of ground during the meeting, including the confirmation that the next UK wildfire conference will be held in South Wales in November 2019. The South Wales Fire & Rescue Service has agreed to host the conference and the theme will be based on management for wildfire. In an effort to reach a wider audience, consideration will be given to organising some local / regional events in advance to provide a connection to people who might not want to attend the conference. We agreed that it is too early in this late spring to be turning our backs on wildfire for the year,...

You may think it is cold and wet where you are, and that this winter is never going to end, but at this time of year the vegetation is at its driest and it only takes a day or two of dry weather to push the wildfire risk to a dangerous level. Significant wildfires have already occurred this year in southern England, Wales and Scotland.  The latest incident dealt with by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service occurred in Sutherland yesterday. Indications are that the short burst of hot dry weather that is occurring this week, will raise the wildfire threat in parts of the country, particularly in north and east Scotland.  There is no scope for complacency about wildfire at any time of the year, but at this time of year vigilance is required to avoid serious incidents.  It is not 'if' a wildfire happens in your area, it is 'when', and we should be planning accordingly. I will be chairing the meeting of the England & Wales Wildfire Forum in Wrexham, nex...