SLE welcomes EFRA committee call for evidence on wildfires

Press Release

The launch of a UK Parliamentary examination of the growing threat of wildfires has been welcomed as a ‘timely and necessary step’ in addressing an escalating risk to rural communities, landscapes and the wider environment.

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, was commenting after the call for evidence by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee was announced today (April 22).

In publishing its request for information, EFRA committee chair Alistair Carmichael MP said the committee wanted to hear from experts in this field and organisations who care for their landscapes, as well as public services who face wildfires annually and have tools and strategies to prevent and contain them.

Ross Ewing, Director - Moorland & Strategic Projects at Scottish Land & Estates, said:

“Wildfires are no longer a rare or seasonal threat – they are becoming an increasingly frequent and dangerous feature of life across both rural and urban parts of the UK. This call for evidence is a welcome and much-needed opportunity to take a more coordinated and evidence-led approach to tackling that challenge.

“Land managers and rural businesses are on the frontline when wildfires occur. They are often the first to respond, working alongside the emergency services in difficult and fast-moving situations, and they play a vital role year-round in managing vegetation and reducing fuel loads.

“It is essential that we fully recognise the importance of practical land management techniques – including controlled muirburn and other forms of vegetation management – in reducing wildfire risk. These tools, when carried out responsibly and with the right safeguards, are a key part of the solution.

“We would also urge the committee to look closely at how land managers can be better supported through clear policy, appropriate funding and proportionate regulation. Too often, those managing the land are faced with increasing expectations but insufficient backing to deliver the outcomes being asked of them.

“Wildfire prevention requires a genuinely joined-up approach – bringing together government, land managers, emergency services and local communities. This call for evidence provides an important platform to ensure that happens, and we commend the EFRA committee for its attention on this matter. We look forward to contributing constructively to the committee’s work in the coming months.”

The National Fire Chiefs Council said that 2025 broke UK records for the most reported incidents of wildfires, surpassing the previous record in 2022. 

In 2025, Scotland recorded its worst wildfire ever at Carrbridge and Dava in Strathspey. According to a report by SLE for the Scottish Government, 11,827 hectares of moorland and woodland were devastated by the fire. More than 100 people from 33 rural businesses, including 27 estates, tackled the fires alongside the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service. At least 110 ATVs, fogging units, tractors, diggers, water bowsers and other assets were deployed. The collective value of specialist firefighting equipment deployed by land managers was conservatively estimated at £4million.