New Scotland wildfire strategy launched after record 2025 fire season

by Featured NewsWildland Fire

Scotland action plan sets out wildfire response changes

A new strategic action plan has been launched to strengthen wildfire prevention, preparedness and response across Scotland following the country’s most severe wildfire season in recent memory.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said the plan is designed to improve coordination between agencies, expand operational capability and increase public awareness of wildfire risk.

Scotland’s high-risk wildfire period, traditionally between March and May, has expanded in recent years.

Firefighters spent more than 100 days responding to more than 230 wildfires during 2025.

The executive summary of the Wildfires: strategic action plan records 241 wildfires during the year, including the Carrbridge and Dava Moor fire which burned nearly 10,000 hectares and is described as the UK’s largest recorded wildfire.

The plan was developed in partnership with SFRS with input from His Majesty’s Fire Service Inspectorate alongside other stakeholders.

It sets out coordinated actions under three areas covering prevention, preparedness and response.

Measures include strengthening public awareness of wildfire risks, investing in wildfire vehicles and equipment and developing a multi-agency Concept of Operations ahead of the 2026 wildfire season.

Local and regional Incident Response Plans will also be enhanced to strengthen protection for responders, rural communities and Scotland’s natural environment during periods of heightened wildfire activity.

Additional actions include reviewing and expanding the Community Asset Register and examining a mountain rescue-style approach to trained wildfire volunteers with a potential trial in Cairngorms National Park.

Scotland equipment investment and operational preparation

SFRS said it reviewed the 2025 wildfire season and has invested in equipment, training and specialist capability.

Four new wildfire support units with enhanced equipment have been placed in Alford, Oban, Galashiels and Dornoch.

Two interim wildfire units have also been introduced in Lockerbie and Thurso.

Controlled burn training is being delivered to support operational readiness.

The service worked with partners to review wildfire incidents from 2025 through the Scottish Multi-Agency Resilience Training and Exercising Unit (SMARTEU).

Recommendations from the SMARTEU debrief will be progressed through the Scottish Wildfire Forum.

More than 30 fire stations across Scotland are already equipped with dedicated wildfire resources.

Wildfire tactical advisers are also available to provide strategic support during incidents.

To inform the public, SFRS issues Wildfire Danger Assessments through its website and social media channels when weather conditions increase wildfire risk.

SFRS Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour said: “Wildfires continue to pose an increasing threat to Scotland’s rural communities and natural environment.

“We welcome the strategic action plan, which is an essential step in ensuring our firefighters, land managers, public bodies and partners can enhance their collective response to wildfires.

“It is vital for everyone to play their part in protecting Scotland’s natural environment with responsible outdoor behaviour.

“Never assume a small fire, like a campfire or portable BBQ, is safe and harmless.

“The smallest spark or ember in dry conditions can quickly lead to wildfire destroying large parts of the countryside.”

Scotland ministers link plan to future wildfire preparedness

SFRS said Minister for Community Safety Siobhian Brown and Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie joined the service at Pitlochry fire station to present wildfire appliances and equipment as the annual wildfire awareness campaign launched alongside the action plan.

Brown said: “Last year’s wildfires were a warning that we must be prepared for this to be a more regular occurrence as a result of climate change.

“The strategic action plan will improve coordination between the SFRS and other responders during wildfires and includes the development of Incident Response Plans to strengthen the protection of responders, rural communities, and the natural environment during periods of heightened wildfire activity.

“It will also see the Community Asset Register – a list of volunteers and equipment to help with wildfire response – reviewed and expanded.”

Fairlie said: “All of us who saw the devastation caused by last year’s fires know that it took an incredible effort to get them under control and I would like to repeat our thanks to all the SFRS staff, landowners, managers, keepers and workers who stepped in.

“So many communities stepped up to save their local landscape and the species that live there and this plan is intended to help us better prepare for the future.

“Each of us has a part to play in preventing wildfires and must be mindful of their behaviour when enjoying our wonderful countryside during the dry months to ensure we do not do anything or leave behind litter that could ignite a fire.”

The strategic action plan sets out a coordinated approach intended to strengthen Scotland’s wildfire resilience ahead of the 2026 wildfire season and in future years.

FEU urges EU to treat fire services as core to European resilience

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

FEU issues call for resilience focus

The Federation of EUropean fire officers (FEU) has called on the European Union and national governments to treat the fire service as a core pillar of European resilience following a seminar in Vienna on Thursday 20 November 2025.

According to FEU, European fire service leaders and specialists at the Vienna seminar agreed that fire and rescue services form the last line of defence when other systems fail during major crises.

The organisation reported that discussions focused on pressures from cyber attacks, prolonged power outages, climate driven disasters and growing geopolitical tension across the region.

FEU said the seminar underlined the need to keep fire and rescue services fully operational during the earliest stages of severe disruption.

The federation positioned these early hours as a period when communities are most exposed to cascading failures in infrastructure and public services.

Strengthening 72 hour operational readiness

FEU stated that one of the key priorities agreed at the Vienna seminar was the ability of fire and rescue services to maintain operations for at least 72 hours during major disruptions.

Participants highlighted that this 72 hour window is when coordinated emergency intervention can have the most direct effect on life safety and community stability.

The organisation linked this objective to the resilience of fire stations, equipment and communication systems in the face of widespread disruption.

FEU also emphasised that staff wellbeing and capacity during extended incidents must be planned into national and European resilience strategies.

Stephan Wevers, president of the Federation of EUropean fire officers, said: “Europe’s resilience is only as strong as its ability to protect people when other systems fail.

“The fire service stands on the frontline of this mission,”

Embedding fire services in resilience planning

According to FEU, seminar participants argued that fire and rescue services must be structurally integrated into resilience planning frameworks at both national and European levels.

The federation said this should place fire services alongside energy providers, digital infrastructure operators, healthcare systems and civil protection agencies when developing resilience strategies.

FEU reported that attendees saw formal cross sector planning as essential to maintaining continuity of emergency response when multiple systems are affected at once.

The discussions also pointed to the role of fire services in supporting civil protection coordination during complex incidents.

FEU explained that improved planning links between sectors could help manage situations where infrastructure failures and environmental hazards arise at the same time.

Investment, foresight and cross border cooperation

FEU said the seminar identified investment in people and infrastructure as another core priority for European resilience.

The federation highlighted the need to protect fire stations, vehicles and specialist equipment so they can remain operational under stress conditions.

According to FEU, resilient emergency communication systems were also seen as essential to sustaining command, control and information sharing during crises.

The organisation added that the wellbeing and readiness of fire and rescue staff must be supported so personnel can function effectively during extended incidents.

FEU stated that strategic foresight was a further priority, with attention on future risks from extreme weather, cyber threats and failures in critical infrastructure.

Based on the seminar outcomes, FEU called on the European Union and national governments to recognise the fire service as a core pillar of resilience within policy and strategy frameworks.

The federation urged policymakers to ensure adequate funding for infrastructure, innovation and workforce readiness in fire and rescue services.

FEU also pressed for stronger cross border cooperation and knowledge exchange so that countries can respond more effectively to transnational crises.

Implications for European fire leadership

The priorities set out by FEU have direct implications for fire and rescue chiefs, senior officers and emergency and disaster response managers across Europe.

The focus on 72 hour operational readiness highlights the need for these leaders to review continuity plans, resource allocation and staff support arrangements for extended incidents.

Attention to cross sector resilience planning is relevant for government departments and civil protection authorities that coordinate national strategies and rely on fire services during multi system failures.

The call for investment in infrastructure, communication systems and staff wellbeing is pertinent for procurement officers, local and national decision makers and those responsible for budgeting for fire and rescue capabilities.

Emphasis on cross border cooperation and knowledge exchange has practical meaning for organisations involved in mutual aid, joint training and shared response frameworks for incidents that cross national boundaries.

The strategic foresight element aligns with the work of standards and certification bodies, risk assessors and fire engineering consultants who address emerging threats such as climate related events and cyber risks to critical infrastructure.