Wildfire Risk


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, next week.  I hope that this meeting does not take place against the backdrop of a smoke-filled atmosphere.

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