Wildfire management in Wales supported by Wales Wildfire Board (WWB) Charter

At the beginning of October, the Fire Brigades Union published a report on UK wildfire resilience, claiming that “wildfire preparation remains a ‘postcode lottery’” due to the absence of a UK-wide strategy for wildfires.

Whilst budget cuts have impacted some fire and rescue services in the UK, wildfire management across Wales is supported by a charter authored by the Wales Wildfire Board (WWB).

The Wales Wildfire Board charter aims to:

• Understand and recognise each other’s impacts to develop a range of early interventions
• Deliver a one voice approach to wildfire messaging, awareness and education across Wales
• Have a better understanding of wildfire risk management across Wales
• Change perceptions and create a ‘wildfire wise’ Wales.

A multitude of agencies have collaborated on the charter, in the hopes to gain a better understanding of what can be done to limit the number of wildfires across Wales, and minimise the damage they can cause to our environment.

The Wales Wildfire Board draws together the three Welsh Fire and Rescue Services, the four Welsh police forces, Welsh Government, Welsh Local Government Association, Natural Resources Wales, and Welsh national parks. This partnership engages with various audiences, working together to support wildfire management, through listening and sharing practical solutions for Wales.

Head of Risk Reduction at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS), Chris Hadfield said:

“This approach ensures that a joined-up strategy around climate change, prevention activities, arson, landowners, and our operational response puts us at the forefront of protecting our landscapes, habitats and our communities.

“Every year, fire is responsible for the destruction of thousands of hectares of countryside, open space, and wildlife habitats.

“Earlier this year, SWFRS was inundated with calls and reports of wildfires in the South Wales area. From the 1 of April to 11 June 2023, SWFRS had responded to almost 400 deliberate grass and wildfires that have destroyed natural habitats and caused significant damage. From 5 June to 11 June 2023 alone, we responded to 75 deliberate wildfires.”

For more information on how we tackled these wildfires, click here.

Andrew Wright, Deputy Chair of the Wales Wildfire Board and Senior Specialist Advisor – Plant Health and Knowledge Transfer at Natural Resources Wales said:

“Our wildfire charter is formulated around three key themes, each designed to ensure we are able to focus on the areas which not only require the most attention, but will also have the biggest influence in improving our understanding of wildfires and how the Board can positively manage their impact.”

Partners of the Wales Wildfire Board commit to working with communities to build a healthier and more resilient landscape, by developing a more biodiverse countryside for the future.