Fighting hard-to-find wildfires 'challenging'

12 hours ago

A wildfire between High Newton and Newby Bridge in March 2022 spread for nearly half a mile

Sedbergh Wildfire Team Orange fire glowing on a fell with dark fields in front. It's night time and the sky is full of orange-grey smoke above the fire and white grey smoke to the side. There are some black silhouetted trees along the ridge of the far fell with bright spots of white-orange fire beneath. In the foreground are two leafless trees, black silhouetted against the orange background. — A wildfire between High Newton and Newby Bridge in March 2022 spread for nearly half a mile

Locating wildfires reported by visitors in remote parts of the Lake District is hampered by their unfamiliarity with the landscape, the area's fire service has warned.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) met its 15-minute response target about 87% of the time this year but took 81 minutes on one call-out, according to figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request. Two in 2024 and 2025 took about 50 minutes.

CFRS group manager Scott Cameron said finding wildfires was challenging if people calling them in did not know where they were.

"When the emergency alert went out from the government, we had around 20,999 calls in the few hours after that which were giving vague areas," he said.

The government alert was issued earlier this year to warn people about the wildfire risk and alert them to a temporary ban on disposable barbecues.

While Cameron said he could not comment on the circumstances of the 81-minute response, he said the combination of location and a "transient population of tourists" could make some call-outs challenging.

"We have the Lake District in the middle of our county where not many people live," he said.

"Naturally, our control operators will send a resource to it with a general location. It might then take time to actually work out where that location is."

A fire at Walney Island was one of a number to break out in 2025

@Walney Island A massive plume of billowing smoke, with white, grey and almost black sections, rising up from a low green hill or incline. The sky is bright blue and the smoke is almost cloud-like. Beneath the smoke, and on top of the hill, is a patch of yellow gorse. — A fire at Walney Island was one of a number to break out in 2025

The figures were obtained via a Freedom of Information Request to the 47 fire and rescue services in England and Wales by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which is calling for more resources and equipment for fire services as the risk from wildfires grows.

The figures show Cumbria has recorded 96 wildfires so far in 2026, compared with 230 last year, 92 in 2024, 151 in 2023 and 159 in 2022.

Cameron said the county's wetter climate had helped this year as rainfall prevented vegetation becoming as dry as in other parts of the country.

But last year had seen longer dry spells and a much higher number of wildfire incidents, he said.

CFRS had invested in specialist equipment and training since the mid-2010s and was "well prepared" for tackling wildfires but additional aerial capabilities would be beneficial, Cameron said.

The service has no drones in its inventory which he said would make it easier to monitor the spread of wildfires.

A fire in Stavely in April this year spread across 400 sq m of land

Peter Hamilton Orange flames are burning brightly against the surrounding night sky. Smoke surrounds the fire and looks pale orange and grey. Beneath the fire are the black silhouettes of trees and bushes and another, leafless, tree is black and in the foreground. There is a white chimney in front of the fire. The rest of the sky is dark black. — A fire in Stavely in April this year spread across 400 sq m of land

Of the 29 fire services to respond to the CLA, 77% recorded more wildfires in the first half of 2026 than in the entirety of 2024.

CLA president Gavin Lane said the UK needed to "look beyond our own borders" to places like California and Australia.

"They've invested in specialist equipment, training and a much more proactive approach to managing the land, including through controlled burning," he said.

"We should be learning from this experience."

Cameron warned that, despite being well equipped and trained and with a wetter landscape than some, Cumbria remained at risk.

"The concern is definitely real," he said.

"We will try and be as prepared as possible. The climate is changing and we need to adapt to that as a service."