MPs press ministers for rethink on wildfires strategy

MPs have called for a rethink of Britain’s approach to wildfires after a record summer exposed growing pressure on rural land managers, fire services and the government’s ability to assess and respond to the threat.

More than 1,300 wildfires burned over 50,000 acres and destroyed 19 homes this summer, prompting the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Select Committee to host an evidence session on preventing and responding to the growing threat.

See also: Farmer fears wildfire damage could last generations

Opening the cross-party session on Tuesday 15 September, committee chairman Alistair Carmichael MP praised farmers, shepherds, gamekeepers and other land managers who tackled fires at considerable personal risk.

He highlighted reports of rural responders still “coughing up ash” days after fighting fires, before questioning whether government was doing enough to prevent them.

MPs and the panel at the Efra committee hearing on wildfires © Parliament TV

Defra minister Jenny Riddell-Carpenter said the UK had “come out of this summer in a very, very different place”, with lessons learned on behaviour, adaptation and how other countries tackle wildfires.

“We need to relook at heightened risk,” she said. “We faced the hottest summer record which could well be the coolest summer we will have in the future.”

“What we have in place now isn’t going to be fit for managing fires in 10 years’ time,” she added.

Controlled burning debated

Some of the sharpest exchanges centred on upland management, with Mr Carmichael questioning the role of controlled burning while longer-term peatland restoration takes years to deliver.

Of 24 applications for licences to burn on deep peat in the past year, only two had been approved. Defra said most were not for wildfire mitigation, while pointing to cutting, grazing and rewetting as alternatives.

Ms Riddell-Carpenter defended the government’s approach, telling MPs: “A wetter moor is a better moor.”

The Labour MP for Suffolk Coastal said rewetting was a long-term approach that could also improve wildfire resilience alongside water management, carbon storage and nature.

She acknowledged concerns over the complexity of the licensing system, however, and said Defra would issue licences where applications were credible.

Disposable BBQ ban?

MPs also pressed ministers over disposable barbecues, with calls for a nationwide ban after fires linked to human activity.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has highlighted abuse faced by landowners and rural responders when trying to stop people using barbecues and open flames during periods of extreme fire risk.

Asked about a national ban, fire minister Baroness Blake of Leeds said “all things are on the table”, while stressing the need for wider public awareness.

Labour MP for South West Norfolk Terry Jermy challenged ministers over the emergency alert issued during the August fires, highlighting confusion in rural areas where poor mobile coverage resulted in repeated alerts.

Ms Riddell-Carpenter said some phones repeatedly attempted to receive messages where signals were weak, while a delay between Welsh and English versions also caused concern.

The hearing exposed wider concerns over how wildfire risk is assessed. Officials told MPs wildfires are now considered more likely than earthquakes, despite being classified as a “remote” risk in the National Risk Register.

Ministers said the register would be reviewed before next year’s fire season, while Defra is developing a new action plan and longer-term strategy.

Wildfire summit planned

A national wildfire summit convened by the prime minister is due to be held in October, with ministers promising it will be about “action and not just people having a comfortable conversation in the room”.

Work is also under way on aerial firefighting capability, drones, improvements to emergency alerts, local resilience planning and closer UK-wide co-ordination between devolved administrations.