York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith has welcomed new Government measures to strengthen the UK’s response to wildfires, following the major moorland fire at Fylingdales and Langdale Moor in 2025.
The measures, announced at the National Wildfire Summit at the National Resilience Centre of Excellence in Liverpool, include plans to equip RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft with specialist firefighting equipment, improve firefighters’ access to specialist wildfire equipment and invest £25 million in peatland restoration.
However, the announcement raises wider questions about how quickly the measures will be implemented, how much support will reach North Yorkshire and whether the changes will address the practical challenges faced by firefighters during major incidents.
Lessons from the North York Moors wildfire
The 2025 fire at Fylingdales and Langdale Moor caused extensive damage to moorland and peatland habitats. The scale of the incident highlighted the difficulties of tackling fires in remote landscapes, where access, water supplies and the nature of the terrain can complicate firefighting operations.
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority committed nearly £300,000 in ring-fenced environmental funding to support recovery and restoration work, enabling the North York Moors National Park Authority to progress its plans.
The Government’s proposed investment in peatland restoration follows a similar approach, with work intended to restore damaged habitats, improve environmental resilience and help reduce future risks.
Peatland restoration can provide important environmental benefits, but the effectiveness of the wider wildfire response will also depend on prevention, operational readiness and the resources available to fire and rescue services.
Mayor calls for further action
Following the wildfire, Mayor Skaith called for stronger measures to prevent future incidents. His proposals included a permanent ban on disposable barbecues, fair funding for rural fire and rescue services and improved water management, including making it easier for farmers to build on-farm reservoirs.
The Government has now confirmed it will explore tougher restrictions and potential product bans to reduce the risk of fires being started during periods of high danger, following a temporary ban in August 2026.
The extent to which the proposed measures will be introduced, and how they will be enforced, remains an important consideration. Restrictions on disposable barbecues may address one potential source of ignition, but preventing wildfires also requires attention to other activities that can start fires and the conditions that allow them to spread.
What will the new measures deliver?
Equipping military aircraft for aerial firefighting could provide additional capability during major incidents, particularly where fires spread across remote or difficult-to-access terrain. Improved access to specialist equipment could also help firefighters respond to the specific demands of wildfire incidents.
However, the announcement does not in itself establish when the additional aerial capability will become operational, how it will be deployed or what additional resources will be made available to local fire and rescue services.
Further detail on implementation, funding and operational arrangements will be important in assessing whether the measures address the challenges exposed by the North Yorkshire fire.
The Mayor’s announcement also highlights the distinction between announcing new measures and demonstrating their impact. The longer-term test will be whether the investment improves preparedness, reduces the risk of future fires and helps protect communities and the countryside.
Mayor welcomes national action
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
Wildfires are becoming an increasingly common threat to communities, businesses and some of our most treasured landscapes.
The Fylingdales and Langdale wildfire showed the scale of the challenge we face here in York and North Yorkshire and the incredible work of firefighters, land managers and local communities who came together to protect people and the environment.
The commitment to strengthen our national wildfire response, including more aerial firefighting cap