Urgent need for Scottish fire management strategy to protect precious peatland and habitat
Press ReleaseScottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, is calling for a Scotland-wide Integrated Fire Management Strategy to protect some of Scotland’s rarest species and habitats.
The call comes ahead of the Wildfire Summit taking place on 14 October in Grantown-on-Spey, chaired by Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown.
Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland, Scottish Land & Estates, who is attending the event, said:
“We welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to learning lessons from the devastating Carrbridge-Dava wildfires. With two Ministers leading the Wildfire Summit, it is clear just how seriously the Scottish government is taking this issue.
“Wildfires are becoming more frequent in Scotland, posing a significant risk to some of our rarest native species and nationally important habitats. It is important to acknowledge that firefighters, gamekeepers and other rural workers put their own safety on the line by tackling these vast blazes, which, in the case of the Carrbridge-Dava wildfire, saw flame lengths of 20 metres alongside a rapid rate of spread and smouldering.
“Given the size and scale of the private-sector response to recent wildfires, it is vital that the views of estates, gamekeepers and land managers are taken into account as Ministers consider how to combat the growing threat of wildfire. An Integrated Fire Management Strategy for the whole of Scotland should be the priority, with a clear focus on risk reduction, readiness and response.”
The Carrbridge-Dava wildfire burned for four days, devastating nearly 12,000 hectares and releasing an estimated 590,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere. Following the fires, efforts continued over a number of weeks to dampen down hotspots.
The response by estates and rural businesses was outstanding. More than 36 businesses and 110 people, the majority of whom were gamekeepers, turned out to suppress the flames, making use of privately owned equipment valued at nearly £4 million. Several of the responders used tactical back-burning – the controlled use of fire to fight wildfire – as part of the response using skills learned while undertaking muirburn (the controlled, rotational burning of heather) on estates. Much of the privately owned equipment used in the containment exists as a consequence of muirburn operations.
In a report for the Scottish Government, SLE quantified the response by land-based and rural businesses and made a series of recommendations to Ministers. Among them, SLE is calling for:
Investment in a bespoke or retained Scottish Fire & Rescue Service aerial capability and enhanced authority for SFRS commanders to mobilise private helicopter assets. [Helicopters were deployed for 96 hours during the Carrbridge-Dava incident at a cost of approximately £240,000].
Provision of bespoke all-terrain vehicles for the SFRS, with suppression and containment capabilities.
Creation of a Scotland-wide Integrated Fire Management Strategy (IFMS) as an urgent priority, with leadership and input from the Scottish Government.
Ross Ewing continued: “We are on the cusp of a decisive change in our approach to wildfire preparedness and response. The Scottish government has listened to the experience of rural workers and has recognised the vital importance of collaborative working, to ensure we are using every tool at our disposal to reduce the likelihood of wildfires starting and to respond more effectively when they do. A strategy for fire management will help better protect landscapes, nature, property and communities and will put Scotland among a growing list of countries who are working hard to confront the growing risk posed by wildfire.”