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Wildfires
Latest news, advice and opinion on wildfires in the UK.


Proactive Burning Policies Could Reduce Wildfire Risk, Study Suggests
A new study has modelled how prescribed burning interacts with uncontrolled wildfires. The researchers compared two main approaches: reactive and proactive.

Rob Beeson
Sep 9, 20251 min read


Wildfire Risks Ignored as Government Bans Burning on Deep Peat
The government's decision to ban the burning of vegetation on deep peat is misguided and ignores real concerns over wildfire risks.

Andrew Gilruth
Sep 9, 20251 min read


Smoke from Wildfires: New Evidence on Health Risks and Why Fire Type Matters
A new study from Nevada, USA, has found that smoke from wildland fires can lead to increased hospital visits for breathing and heart problems - and the type of fire makes a difference.

Rob Beeson
Sep 3, 20251 min read


How Unprecedented UK Heatwaves Are Igniting a New Era of Extreme Wildfire Risk
This blog post provides a detailed summary of the paper: Unprecedented UK heatwave harmonised drivers of fuel moisture creating extreme temperate wildfire risk.

Rob Beeson
Sep 2, 20257 min read


Heatwaves, Fuel Moisture, and Rising Wildfire Risk
A new UK study has shown how extreme heatwaves can dramatically increase the risk of severe wildfires on heath and peatland landscapes.

Rob Beeson
Sep 1, 20252 min read


Prescribed Fire Helped Prevent a Major Wildfire Disaster in New Mexico
Proactive land management - including traditional burning - is essential to protecting both ecosystems and rural communities from catastrophic wildfire.

Rob Beeson
Sep 1, 20251 min read


VIDEO: Extensive Damage Caused by Langdale Moor Wildfire
An update from the North York Moors Moorland Organisation showing the extent of the damage caused by the Langdale Moor wildfire, damage which would be far worse were it not for the brave efforts of firefighters, gamekeepers and farmers.

Rob Beeson
Aug 27, 20251 min read


VIDEO: As Langdale Burns, Firefighters and Gamekeepers Fight to Save the Moor
We are deeply concerned by the scale of the wildfire on Langdale Moor and extend our thanks to the fire service, gamekeepers, farmers and other local responders who are working tirelessly in difficult conditions to bring it under control.

Rob Beeson
Aug 26, 20251 min read


Wildfire Smoke Increases Health Risks for Firefighters, New Research Finds
A new study has found that wildland firefighters are exposed to harmful substances during wildfire suppression that can increase their risk of serious health problems - including lung damage, oxidative stress, and even cancer.

Rob Beeson
Aug 26, 20251 min read


What Will It Take to Learn from the Saddleworth and Howden Moor Wildfires?
For years, traditional land management practices - particularly controlled burning - have been increasingly restricted. As a result, fuel loads have been allowed to build up, turning moorland into a fire risk waiting to happen.

Rob Beeson
Aug 15, 20253 min read


Heatwaves, Drying Vegetation, and London’s 2022 Wildfire Crisis
The summer of 2022 saw London face its worst wildfire outbreak on record, fuelled by extreme heat and parched green spaces.

Rob Beeson
Aug 14, 20251 min read


Prescribed Burning Proven to Reduce Wildfire Risk
A new 38-year satellite study from the United States shows clear evidence that controlled, or “prescribed,” burning reduces the size and spread of wildfires.

Rob Beeson
Aug 14, 20251 min read
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