MPs Question Ministers on Moorland Burning and Wildfire Fuel Loads
Quick summary
The Defra minister told MPs that restoring wet peatland is one of the best long-term defences against upland wildfire, while accepting it will take years.
Only two of 24 applications for burning licences on deep peat were granted in the past year. Officials are now working to make the scheme easier to use.
MPs praised the gamekeepers, farmers and land managers who fought this summer's fires. Ministers pointed to existing grants rather than new support.
The government confirmed a Wildfire Summit in October and promised to review the national wildfire risk assessment before next season.
On 15 September 2026, the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee questioned ministers on this summer's wildfires. Evidence came from four witnesses:
Baroness Blake of Leeds, Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Resilience
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP, Defra minister
Peter Lee, Director for Fire at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
Gabrielle Edwards, Interim Director for Strategy, Governance and Climate
The Chair, Alistair Carmichael MP, opened by noting record fire numbers, 19 homes destroyed and over 50,000 acres burned.
Land management and controlled burning
Ms Riddell-Carpenter said the heather and grassland question "covers 5% of the UK but sometimes it feels like it dominates 95% of the debate". Asked by the Chair how fuel would be reduced before next season, she said cutting is an option but accepted it cannot reach steep, inaccessible moorland. In those places, licences would be approved.
Ms Edwards explained that a licence is needed to burn where peat is deeper than 30 centimetres.
"So we're very clear that it's not a complete ban on burning, and the licensing scheme is available." Gabrielle Edwards, Interim Director for Strategy, Governance and Climate
Most applications were for training, which fire services advised could happen on less risky ground. Of the two licences granted, one was for wildfire mitigation and one for research.
The Chair noted that the 2025 amended regulations had tripled the area needing a licence. He asked why the department was "so determined to leave that fireload on the hill". Ms Edwards replied: "I don't think we are determined to leave the fireload on the hill." She said burning affects hydrology and works against long-term rewetting.
"At the moment we have not had many license applications that have been credible. If we get credible license applications we will issue them." Gabrielle Edwards
MPs said evidence to the committee described licensing as "slow and impractical". They argued that the Natural England evidence review behind the rules did not assess wildfire risk. Ms Edwards said wildfire risk was considered through consultation and a meeting with the National Fire Chiefs Council.
Members also noted the government is funding £2.5 million of five-year research into moorland management while the rules are already in force. Ms Edwards replied that governments never have a perfect evidence base and review policy as evidence improves.
Ms Riddell-Carpenter acknowledged Country Land and Business Association (CLA) feedback that licences are "very prescriptive" about location, when wind can shift before approval. Ms Edwards said officials had expected more applications. They are working with the CLA to improve guidance for the coming burning season.
Rewetting and peatland restoration
Ms Riddell-Carpenter described peatland restoration as a major opportunity for nature, water and drought resilience that needs to accelerate.
"...if we continue to invest in peatland restoration over the next decade with the ambition that we have, that would be one of the best ways to increase resilience on that landscape." Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Defra
She rejected claims that a lack of managed burning caused the fire in her own constituency, warning of "a distorted argument".
The Chair supported rewetting but said it will take many years. The minister agreed it "will take a long time". Ms Edwards argued that repeated burning dries the land and encourages heather, which she called "extremely flammable".
Land managers on the front line
The Chair said around 70% of over 300 written submissions came from private individuals. He described land managers, farmers and gamekeepers fighting fires at considerable personal risk, some "coughing up ash" days afterwards.
Asked whether these first responders would have a voice at the Prime Minister's summit, Baroness Blake said:
"I think you have made a very compelling case to make sure that that voice is adequately brought in... I'll take that away." Baroness Blake of Leeds CBE, Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Resilience
Ms Riddell-Carpenter pointed to Dorset, where farmers work with their fire service to adapt water tanks and equipment. She said grants exist through Farming in Protected Landscapes and other Defra schemes, but uptake is low.
MPs asked two further questions. The first was whether the government would give monetary recognition to the social value of farming, as in Wales. The second was whether wildfire resilience could be a public good under Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs). In both cases, the minister pointed to existing schemes.
"I don't want to see farmers or landowners not using that scheme and being out of pocket because they are doing the right thing in their land to make this adaptation." Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP
Where we differ from the government
Burning and rewetting as alternatives. Ms Edwards said that with continual controlled burning, "we will not make that move" to restored peatland. The MA's view is that active fuel management and rewetting work best together. Rewetting does not remove the fuel already on the hill, which dries out in hot spells regardless.
Fuel on the hill before next season. Witnesses accepted that rewetting takes years and cutting cannot reach steep ground, yet only two licences were granted. The MA believes cutting, grazing and controlled burning should be supported as routine management methods.
The evidence base. MPs said the review behind the licensing rules did not assess wildfire risk, and new government research is still under way. The MA supports policy led by peer-reviewed evidence and official monitoring. It expects the rules to be reviewed as that research reports.
Recognising land managers. No witness offered new support for land managers' firefighting role beyond existing schemes. Sarah Dyke MP noted that Farming in Protected Landscapes grants are not open to all farmers.
Land managers at the summit. Baroness Blake agreed to take away the case for first responders being heard, but made no firm commitment.
What happens next
Wildfire Summit: the Prime Minister has committed to a summit, expected in October, with community representation.
Licensing guidance: officials are said to be working with rural organisations on improvements before the burning season. No date was given.
Wildfire Action Plan: Defra is working on an action plan, with a one, two and ten-year approach.
National Risk Register: Peter Lee gave an assurance that the wildfire risk assessment will be reviewed before next season.
Scheme uptake: the Defra minister has asked officials to boost uptake of existing land management grants.
Why this matters
Upland wildfire risk will only fall if land managers are permitted and funded to reduce fuel loads, and are supported in their work alongside fire services, before next season.
