Cumbria Wildfire Group

The Cumbria Wildfire Group is a partnership of both public and private organisations in Cumbria County that together work toward the prevention and effective response to wildfire.  The Wildfire Group is made up of public sector bodies, landowners, land managers, and other organisations that have a vested interest in the effect of wildfire in Cumbria. Its coverage area spans the whole of Cumbria, including mountains, moorland, farmland, urban interface and beyond. It came about through the desire of the Cumbria County Council and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service to combat the increasing possibility for major wildfires to occur in Cumbria. In order to achieve their goal, the two organisations invited RDI to put together a project plan and funding proposal for a Cumbrian Wildfire Group. With the completion of this work, the Cumbria Wildfire Group has recently entered into the first of its two year project life in May of 2008.

The Cumbria Wildfire Group structure consists of two parts: Steering group members include the Cumbria County Council, the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, the Lake District National Park, United Utilities, the National Trust, the Forestry Commission, the Ministry of Defence, Landmarc, Natural England and the Moorland Association, with the CLA acting as the group’s chair. The greater wildfire group consists of many individuals and organisations, including mountain rescue teams, charity groups, landowners, farmers, and any other interested parties. RDI acts as the independent project facilitator for the group which is vital to the timely delivery of its activities and securing group funding.

The group will deliver a wide range of activities across Cumbria aimed at reducing the potential for wildfire to occur and ensuring a more effective response when wildfires ignite. A standard fire plan has been distributed to group members that will allow for a more effective response by the land managers and the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Services to wildfires on both publicly and privately owned land. A wildfire standard operating procedure manual is being developed to help public sector bodies and private land managers work together with the Fire and Rescue Service on a wildfire incident. A public awareness campaign illustrating the dangers of wildfire to the natural environment and local communities will be delivered through the group members. RDI will provide wildfire training through the delivery of its Basic Wildfire Fighting and Advanced Wildfire Fighting courses.

Through these activities the Cumbria Wildfire Group will help to protect the exceptionally beautiful natural landscapes found throughout Cumbria, support the sustainable development of its communities, and combat climate change through the preservation of important carbon storing vegetation such as forest and peat and heather moorland.

For more information on the group see the downloads below or contact Ethan Bigelow at the North East office.

Fire Plans (Cumbria Country Council): http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/countrysideaccess/openaccess/Fire_Plans.asp

Fire Risks on Open Access Land: http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/countrysideaccess/openaccess/Fire.asp