More Wildfires Highlight Urgent Need For Leadership
- Rob Beeson
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Another spate of wildfires over the weekend, including one that has destroyed 12,500 acres of land on Dartmoor, highlights the growing concern over the risk of wildfires as dry conditions persist.
It is a timely reminder that moorland wildfires are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more destructive.
At the Moorland Association, we represent those who know these landscapes best - the land managers, gamekeepers, farmers and estates who have cared for and protected the uplands for generations. Their traditional knowledge, backed by practical experience and scientific evidence, has a vital role to play in tackling wildfire risk.
We have recently written to the Deputy Prime Minister to call for urgent leadership on wildfire prevention. You can read our full letter here.
One of the most effective tools available today is cool, controlled burning, which reduces the volume of dry vegetation (“fuel load”) that feeds wildfires. This practice is carried out during the legal burning season, under strict regulations and only in suitable conditions. It is not fire-risky - it is fire-smart. Controlled burning creates firebreaks and mosaics of habitat, slowing or halting the spread of wildfires.
Unfortunately, current wildfire policy in England often overlooks this vital tool - and the people who have the skills to use it. At the same time, funding and coordination between agencies remain patchy. Without a coherent national strategy, frontline responders and land managers are left vulnerable as wildfire risk escalates.
We urge policymakers to listen carefully to those on the ground. Our members don’t just respond to wildfires - they work every day to prevent them. They manage vegetation, maintain access tracks for fire crews, and monitor risk across remote areas. That knowledge and commitment must be part of the solution.
Wildfire prevention is not just an environmental issue - it’s about protecting communities, landscapes, and wildlife. And it requires a return to common sense, where traditional practices are recognised as part of a modern, evidence-based approach to land management.
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