New Moorland Fire Risk Map Launched to Help Prevent Wildfires

A new tool has been launched by the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation to help land managers, emergency services and the public better understand and respond to wildfire threats in the uplands. The Moorland Fire Risk Index is a live map covering northern England and Wales, showing the real-time Moorland Wildfire Risk across moorland areas.

Why is this needed? In dry weather, moorlands can become dangerously flammable. During the devastating 2018 Saddleworth fire, the official fire warning was only set at ‘Amber’ - meaning many people still visited the moorland despite gamekeepers and fire crews warning of extreme conditions. The new tool aims to avoid that happening again.

Unlike national forecasts, this tool is grounded in local knowledge. Gamekeepers report weekly from the ground they know best, using a set of simple traffic-light indicators - from green (safe) to red (high risk). They assess factors like wind direction, recent rainfall, dry spells, and public holidays (which often mean more visitors with higher ignition risk).

Each keeper’s responses are scored and combined to produce an average risk level, which is then displayed on the live map.

This is not a scientific model - it’s a real-time picture from the people who work daily to protect our moorlands. It provides a vital early warning system and could help shape more responsive fire management in the future.

View Wildfire Risk Index