Photo: David Skaith with Tom Hind Chief Executive Officer at North York Moors and Alison Hume MP at wildfire summit
Attending the National Wildfire Summit at the National Resilience Centre of Excellence in Liverpool, David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has welcomed new Government measures to strengthen the UK's response to wildfires.
During the Summit, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to equip RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft with specialist firefighting equipment, committed to improving firefighter access to specialist wildfire equipment, and a £25 million investment in peatland restoration.
The announcement comes as restoration work begins at Fylingdales and Langdale Moor following one of the largest wildfires ever seen in the UK. The blaze, which burned an area around ten times the size of the Great Fire of London during the summer of 2025, caused significant damage to important peatland habitats.
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority committed nearly £300,000 of ring-fenced environmental funding, enabling the North York Moors National Park Authority to move swiftly into the planning and delivery of recovery and restoration work.
The Government's investment in peatland restoration mirrors the approach already being taken locally, with recovery efforts at Fylingdales and Langdale Moor focused on restoring damaged peatland, delivering environmental benefits and helping the landscape recover from the effects of the fire.
Following the wildfire, David Skaith called for greater action to prevent future wildfires, including a permanent ban on disposable barbecues, fair funding for rural fire and rescue services, and better water management, such as 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 when conditions are at their most dangerous, following a temporary ban in August 2026.
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 capability and investing in landscape resilience, is an important and necessary step."
"A national approach to wildfires is long overdue and I will continue to work with Government to ensure York and North Yorkshire will always have the best quality public services with the tools they need to serve and protect the public."
Tom Hind, Chief Executive Officer at North York Moors National Park Authority said:
“I’m heartened by the significant steps forward announced by the Prime Minister today.”
The way that land is managed in National Parks and National Landscapes is key to reducing the risk of wildfires. Wed need more resilient ecosystems to meet our multiple climate challenges. This means using a range of tools where appropriate from re-wetting to peatland restoration, strategic firebreaks through cutting and burning as well as pond constructions.”
We can only do this by working with farmers, and other land managers, rewarding and incentivising them to manage land for nature and climate resilience."