Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime has thanked firefighters across the county for their dedication following an exceptionally busy period for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
In the last three months (June – August), North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has attended 850 fires across the county, of which 550 were in the open. This is a 21% increase on last year (2025), and 55% increase on 2024.
The call comes after firefighters have responded to a significant increase in outdoor fires over the summer months, with fire services across the country reporting unprecedented demand linked to dry conditions and increases in wildfires.
Residents and visitors are also being encouraged to continue to play their part in keeping communities safe over the remainder of the summer.
Earlier this summer, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor called for a temporary ban on selling disposable barbeques following the devastating Langdale/ Flyingdales Moor wildfire last summer. Their call has been backed by the Government’s decision to introduce a temporary ban, following a series of significant wildfires across the country.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor continue to support the regional Don’t Spark Disaster campaign from North York Moors National Park, North Yorkshire Council, Forestry England and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. The campaign highlights the devastating impact that wildfires can have, while reminding people of what they can do to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime said
“Our firefighters do an incredible job every day, many of them alongside their substantive jobs. It’s been a real privilege to meet so many of them over the last few weeks to see first-hand their professionalism, and commitment to keeping people safe across our county every day.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has seen a significant rise in the number of emergency call outs to outdoor fires this summer.
For on-call teams, that means more call outs, more flexibility being asked of employers and more time away from their families.
Thank you to employers and families for the support they give to our firefighting community every day.
The August Bank Holiday is often one of busiest periods for emergency services. The public can do their bit to support our services by following the ‘Don’t Spark Disaster’ campaign advice from the fire service”.
