The most important way to prevent wildfire is to take measures in advance to contain its spread. That is the principle of fire doors, which helps stop the spread of fire in buildings.
This past summer witnessed huge wildfires across the UK, many catastrophic to the landscape which will take years to recover. The term ‘mega fire’ has entered the lexicon of descriptions for wildfire in the UK, in this the year of greatest acreage of destruction by wildfire across the country.
Carelessness costs the environment dearly. The majority of wildfires start because of human activity, whether intentional or accidental. Even something as simple as a discarded glass bottle can, under certain conditions, focus sunlight and ignite dry vegetation, an unlikely but possible cause that reinforces the importance of keeping the countryside free from litter.
Durham & Darlington Fire and Rescue Services has produced this reminder of how easy it is to needlessly generate untold damage.
Across the United Kingdom it is important to consider what could be done to minimise the risk of catastrophic wildfire across our countryside and cherished landscapes, our uplands in particular.
We talked with Craig Hope, previously Group Manager for Training and Development South Wales Fire & Rescue Services and now with National Resilience as a wildfire capability advisor, believes the key to assuring the risk to landscape from wildfire is minimised is to assure fuel load is low. He says:
“There can’t be one prescription as to what works everywhere. Each landscape has its own personality and grazing, cutting and cool burning should all be in the mix.”
“It isn’t just about having a healthy landscape; it is also important that there is a healthy rural community. The slow depopulation of the landscape presents a future risk: fewer people and animals, fewer farmers and fewer sheep, means greater monoculture in vegetation and greater risk of a fire running out of control. Added to climate change, large areas of dry grass in remote areas in spring and summer create a perfect environment for a spark to destroy large swathes of our countryside.”
“Previous experience in Wales, and of travelling around the country this past year, tells me there is a lot of practical experience out there to which we need to listen. What is most important going forward is to find common ground. Let’s find out what we agree on and work to create a framework that is ready for the inevitable challenges climate change will bring to the uplands.”