Minutes:
The Chair welcomed Communications Officer, Lucinda Heavyside and Group Manager (GM), Community Protection Manager, Jonny Nottingham to provide the Committee with a presentation detailing the Service’s response to wildfires. Station Manager (SM), Rob Harvey was also in attendance as a Subject Matter Expert in Wildfire.
GM, Jonny Nottingham informed Members that the impact of wildfires was changing and increasing, with a particular turning point being the Winter Hill fire of 2018. The incident began on 28 June, ended 6 weeks later on 08 August, and spanned 18 Square Kilometres of moorland. The Winter Hill TV transmitter, which served six million people in the North West, was located within the area. At the height of the incident, there were over 30 fire engines, 150 firefighters supported by multiple partners, specialist wildfire fighting teams, and Fire and Rescue Services from other areas of the country. The incident consequently led to a number of positive and significant changes with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) leading the way with wildfire response.
Within Lancashire, 14 sites of risk had been identified with some sites known as Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) sites. Specifically, these sites were in Blackburn with Darwen, Chorley, and Bolton (as it bordered with Lancashire). LFRS had joined together with three local councils, using legal powers to protect the environment and prevent wildfire devastation to wildlife and reduce the risks of wildfire on the moors. When implemented in October 2023, the sites covered by the PSPO became the largest in the country with many of the sites crossing into, or bordering, neighbouring Fire and Rescue Services (FRS).
Wildfires were a nationally recognised issue, and a national reporting tool had been adopted. It was noted that nationally, there had been 995 wildfires in 2025 since January which was the highest ever recorded as 2022 had 994. The National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC) had developed a working group for wildfires (chaired by the CFO, Jon Charters) and had also developed a wildfire awareness training programme to which LFRS was aligned. The Service had invested in new equipment and appliances to tackle wildfires. LFRS had a burns team and was leading the sector with equipment (haaglunds, drip torches, dams, blowers, and tactics). Wildfire Tactical Advisors (national assets / wildfire officers), were officers trained with additional skills and knowledge, specifically in wildfire tactics.
In terms of response, new tactics had been developed whereby enhanced resources were used at incidents in the early stages. This included a level 2 commander (Sation Manager and above), burns team, and a wildfire officer, where available. There were 14 polygons of risk areas which had been identified and shared with North West Fire Control (NWFC), preventing small fires from becoming wildfires, and which needed to be considered when mobilising appliances to wildfires.
The Climate Change Operational Response Plan 2022-27 was a long-term plan to address the issues prevented by Climate events. Wildfire risks typically increased during warm spring and summer months due to dry fuel loads being vulnerable to ignition. This could be caused by inappropriate land management, deliberate acts, or accidental human interactions. The plan looked to address the risk posed, long term and continually.
SM, Rob Harvey added that there were restrictions for burning vegetation under the Heather and Grass Burning Code. Under the code, burning season took place between the 01 October and 15 April. Historically, land was managed by burning and cutting, however, there were restrictions through Natural England around some areas in Lancashire for deep peat (over 40cm deep), and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), unless a specific licence was obtained. Aligning to climate change, the intensity and severity of wildfires had increased.
County Councillor J Tetlow asked if the cause of the Winter Hill fire was known and if the Service carried out advanced burnings to prevent or stop fires. SM, Rob Harvey advised that, although there were no prosecutions, it was deemed a deliberate act, as an individual was seen in the area, however, there was no evidence or witnesses. In terms of burning, firefighting tactics had adapted over the years, and due to the prolonged dry spells, vegetation could be removed using a tactical burn. Two individuals were prosecuted for a significant deliberate fire on Darwen Moor in 2020; however, the incident provided the Service with the opportunity to deploy new, improved tactics. The Service struck the fire quickly, Burns Team tactics were deployed, collaboration took place with United Utilities and local land managers, resulting in the management of the perimeter and containment of the fire within a day.
In response to a question from Councillor J Hugo regarding if, dependent on the weather, the timeframes within the Heather and Grass Burning Code could be changed, SM, Rob Harvey advised that times were managed through a risk assessment conducted by the land manager. Variants were dependent on vegetation, whether the areas were an Area Of Natural Beauty, SSSI, nesting birds etc. A licence could be applied for through Natural England. If the depth of deep peat was changed to 30cm, it could have a serious impact on Lancashire as it would expand the area of rotational controlled burning and increase fuel loading.
There had been increased partnership working with Lancashire Fire Operations Group (LFOG), including Lancashire Constabulary (LanCon), United Utilities (UU), and other landowners. Heightened awareness had taken place through greater use of social media campaigns to inform the public and internal awareness through training, including NWFC mobilising due to more reports from the public.
It was highlighted, in terms of operational activity, that the highest-ranking role in attendance at an incident had organisational accountability which included officers from a bordering FRS. This could present issues with prevention activity as many geographical areas crossed into neighbouring FRSs. However, LFRS undertook joint training and exercises which focused on wildfire events. Wildfires put a demand on pumps and put a strain on everyday operations such as incidents, and prevention and protection work.
Climate change through continued global warming was projected to further intensify the global water cycle which included its variability, global monsoon precipitation, and the severity of wet and dry events. Additionally, a flood or wildfire could result in a loss of income from land due to the serious detrimental impact to agricultural land and livestock, eliminating income for many years. These events could also cause damage to property, disruption, and closure of local businesses adjacent to or within a risk area and have insurance impacts for landowners. Insect and animal life could be affected in catchment areas for drinking water.
Wildfires were arduous and dangerous, and the welfare of staff was of primary significance, particularly when operating over protracted periods, in difficult conditions. In recent years, LFRS had made considerable advances, including the implementation of a dedicated welfare unit, the use of generators, powered cool boxes, individual food ration packs, shelters, and sun creams. Those resources allowed for a forward control / welfare point to be established at an easily accessible location on the fireground.
County Councillor A Riggott stated that there was a benefit to public health of providing safety messages and gaining the support of the Directors of Public Health as it was an opportunity for funding. GM, Jonny Nottingham advised that early operational deployment of appliances and tactics was important to reduce the impact of wildfires. He could not comment on the opportunity for funding from Public Health. The ACFO explained that, from a Local Resilience Forum (LFRS) perspective, when significant incidents occurred, the Service worked closely with the Environment Agency and Public Health to deliver safety message around keeping windows closed. The Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) currently chaired the LRF, and through that forum joint work and planning tool place around prevention and preparedness.
County Councillor A Riggott clarified that where the areas surrounding the places for potential wildfires were densely populated, there was the opportunity to present a strong case in respect of accessing funding streams. The Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement (ADoCE), explained that significant wildfires were a relatively new phenomenon and therefore, national data collected was limited in relation to the impacts. SM, Rob Harvey concurred that UK wildfire data was minimal, and the UK Health Security Agency (HSA) used international data. Acid rain from the 80s and 90s was embedded within the moorland peat and the level of toxicity within wildfire smoke and impact on the public, was unknown. As the number of wildfires increased, so would the data. The ACFO informed Members that the Chief Fire Officer (CFO), was the Lead Officer for wildfire at NFCC and brought innovative research to the crossover work with the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) which created a challenge as some duties sat within their jurisdiction.
In response to a question from County Councillor J Tetlow as to whether data for the prevention and management of wildfires from hotter countries could be considered, SM, Rob Harvey explained that a lot of training was carried out in Spain with the Pau Costa Foundation with learning taken from continental partners. The approach they used was ‘Massive Attack,’ whereby a wildfire was hit hard and quickly. LFRS would now mobilise a full wildfire Pre-Determined Attendance (PDA) outside of the Heather and Grass Burning Code to the areas in the presentation. As the response was now much quicker, the national data showed fewer true definition wildfires. Drone technology could also be requested when required. Members noted that wildfires were caused by the behaviour of people.
County Councillor M Clifford stated that land use had changed over the years with many people investing in restoration projects and he asked whether the Service worked with United Utilities (UU) in respect of water levels and the draining of peatland, and the retainment of moss/heather in peatland restoration. SM, Rob Harvey advised that with regards to re-wetting the moorland, UU saved money by taking water out of water captured in the stagnant moss and using that for drinking water as there weren’t as many chemicals to cleanse. In terms of Carbon offsetting, it was considered that trees being planted on the moorland before it had become rewetted could one day become fuel, but the Service worked closed with UU to constantly review the position.
County Councillor Mirfin remarked that another element of Fair Funding was that a large percentage of Lancashire was rural and wildfires occurred on a regular basis. Additionally, he raised concerns regarding historical toxins and radiation in soils and referenced his experience of a 300-year-old elm tree which had died in the same year as the Chernobyl disaster. GM, Jonny Nottingham stressed the importance of putting fires out quickly in the early stages to prevent the release of toxins in smoke.
As agreed by NFCC, a wildfire was defined by meeting one of the following criteria:
· Involved a geographical area of at least one hectare (10,000 square metres).
· Had a sustained flame length of more than 1.5 metres.
· Required a committed resource of at least 4 appliances.
· Required resources to be committed for at least 6 hours.
· Presented a serious threat to life, environment, property, and infrastructure.
Public perception of the Service was very important in relation to its reputation although, wildfires could be difficult to tackle due to their nature.
Recent operational activity included:
· Flexible Duty Officer (FDO) training – thematic / FDO training took place in March.
· NWFC Training (Including 999 eye) – delivered by wildfire tacads to heighten awareness and response.
· Crew awareness – eLearning, EH articles, and social media.
· Prevention activity – banners and having presence.
· Campaigning – robust campaign plan.
Incident data from 2019 – 2024 showed that wildfire numbers fluctuated year on year, with hotspots consistently appearing in areas such as Rossendale, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley and Hyndburn. Notably, 2024 saw a significant reduction, with incidents almost halved compared to previous years although there had been a 14% increase of rainfall. It was noted by Members that the data included all grass and wildfires.
Communications Officer, Lucinda Heavyside provided Members with an overview of the wildfires campaign. The 2025 campaign’s key objectives were to make sure that prevention advice reached the right people, which meant running targeted safety advice to properties and individuals in high-risk areas. Another target was to increase public understanding of risks that included behaviours such as using disposable barbeques, lighting campfires, or something as simple as discarding a cigarette or leaving litter.
Work was conducted with Service partners and the public to simplify target audiences. Regarding partners, collaboration work took place on communications and included local authorities such as Blackburn with Darwen, Chorley, and Bolton in terms of the Public Space Protection Order. It also included the Police, Wildlife Trusts, Marketing Lancashire, and United Utilities. Those organisations were key as they either managed land, had direct influence with local communities, or helped the Service broadcast the message. Regarding the public, the focus was on people who were likely to enjoy Lancashire’s great outdoors: walkers; cyclists; campers; families; and youth groups such as Scouts. The Service was particularly mindful of young people and visitors from outside the county, as they could be less aware of the risks. Properties and areas where PSPOs were already in place were targeted.
The strategy was to make sure the Service’s activity was highly targeted. The wildfire campaign was triggered by an amber wildfire warning which was caused by long, hot, and dry weather for a prolonged period. The campaign for 2025 had been extremely active due to one of the sunniest April’s on record and Summer 2025 was the hottest on record in the UK, according to the Met Office. During those periods, crews would carry out prevention activity around 14 identified high-risk sites as they were places where the landscape, footfall, and history of incidents, made wildfires more likely. Communications would also be concentrated around those same sites. If those sites attracted visitors, the Service would endeavour to find out where they travelled from so messages could be adapted accordingly. The Service had developed a tailored wildfire home fire safety check, so that properties in those risk areas received advice that was relevant to them and not generic fire safety messages. Members were informed that 2025 was the busiest year on record, nationally, for wildfires (995).
The 2025 campaign included a direct mail sent to 600 properties that had been identified as being located in high-risk wildfire areas with the intention of providing clear and tailored safety advice directly to the households most likely to be affected. The purpose was to ensure that residents in those areas had the right information at the right time to reduce risk and had the option to contact the prevention teams if they felt that they required further information. Additionally, 32 banners were ready to be fixed at key risk sites and high-footfall areas across Lancashire when there was a heightened wildfire risk.
Social media had been central to the campaign, which ran from March through to September, but which only became active during periods of increased wildfire risk. Key messages were pushed out through the Service’s social channels which had received fantastic engagement. That was thanks to the staff across the Service who had shared photos and videos, in real time, through the corporate Facebook page and local station pages. A post that showed a vole rescued from a wildfire highlighting the devastating effect wildfires had on animals and the environment. The post reached over 211,000 people on Facebook and almost 250,000 on Instagram with almost 8,000 engagements. Across all social media posts, the campaign had reached more than 1.4 million people and had been a powerful way to showcase the reality of wildfire incidents to raise awareness across a huge audience.
The Service had also teamed up with Fire Services across the North West and EG On The Move to deliver joint safety messages. Adverts on wildfire prevention and water safety ran on digital petrol screens at petrol station forecourts across the region which were free of charge. The partnership meant that the Service could reach people directly at the roadside during the summer months. It was also a great way to target visitors and people travelling from outside Lancashire, who might not see or engage with messages through other channels. It was a strong example of collaboration with five Fire and Rescue Services speaking with one voice to deliver consistent, life-saving messages to a wider audience than LFRS could reach alone.
The campaign was still ongoing, however, once the wildfire season had ended (at the end of September), the Service would analyse incident data in full and assess how objectives had been met. The next steps would be to build on data gained from the campaign and the previous polls on social media to deepen understanding of who was most at risk, and the behaviours that contributed to wildfires. The Service planned to capture behaviour insight directly from young people by speaking with participants on the King’s Trust programmes and fire cadets, to better understand their awareness and the choices that increased or reduced risk. New creative content was also being explore. One idea was a video which showed that when a fire looked like it was out on the surface, it could still be smouldering underneath. Those hidden embers could reignite hours later and spark a much larger fire. It was a powerful way to demonstrate why people needed to take extra care during prolonged dry spells.
County Councillor J Tetlow queried if, due to climate change over the last 10 years, there were more fires due to peat not being used as fuel for fires. SM, Rob Harvey explained that peat harvesting was not routinely conducted in Lancashire and it was more so, in Yorkshire. In Lancashire, the peat was vegetation build up through degrading stagnant moss. Peat was drying out more than expected through climate change and earlier in year which presented a risk.
County Councillor M Clifford asked if there was any enforcement data in relation to PSPOs. The ADoCE advised that there were no prosecutions for the previous year but the evaluation for the current year had not yet been carried out.
The Chair thanked officers for their fantastic presentation.