Minutes:
In introducing this item, the Chair recognised the unprecedented nature of the wildfire at Langdale Moor over the summer. The work of the multi agency response, from the fire and rescue services, the partner agencies, contractors, game keepers and the local farming community was commended for their huge efforts to tackle this unprecedented event to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading.
The Deputy Mayor provided a verbal update, noting the recent Online Public Meeting held on this topic back in September. A timeline of events was set out, with the fire service first notified of the fire at Langdale Moor on the 11th August. The response to the fire was complicated because of the very dry summer and the high winds, coupled with the location of the fire on an old army range, with unexploded ordinance on the site. This unique location meant that the usual tactics to respond to a wildfire couldn’t be used.
A major incident was declared on Wednesday 13th August and it remained significant, but the fire was contained up to the 25th August, with the Deputy Mayor making a visit to the affected site during this period. It was noted that a request to access the Bellwin scheme of emergency financial support from government to local authorities had been made early on in the incident.
Unfortunately the situation escalated as the fire jumped one of the fire breaks, becoming a much larger incident and spreading extremely quickly across the moorland. Evacuations had taken place of nearby holiday parks. National resilience assets were called in on 27th August, to ensure the North Yorkshire crews and service personnel were able to have some respite from tackling the wildfire.
The situation was contained again by the 29th August, but the affected area was now a much larger land area. The Deputy Mayor visited the site again on the 30th August, speaking to firefighters about the unique circumstances of this wildfire, for example the threats to infrastructure, the wildlife and the different geography of the North Yorkshire Moors compared to more urban incidents.
The Fire and Rescue service was praised for their incredible response, along with the farming community and other partners. It was noted the wildfire still remains an active incident and is still being monitored. An investigation is underway and ongoing, and will be reported on in due course.
Following this verbal update, Panel members asked if given the unprecedented resource had focused on the wildfire situation as a major incident, whether this had affected the response times and appliance availability for incidents elsewhere in the county. The Deputy Mayor explained that this was a concern of the service, leading to the request for operational support from other fire and rescue services to provide ongoing cover in other parts of York and North Yorkshire.
It was highlighted that volunteer firefighters in North Yorkshire and elsewhere had stepped up to provide strong support. Response time data which will cover the duration of the incident will be available in November to be scrutinised to see what effect it has had. It was agreed to send the performance data pack to Panel members when it becomes available.
In relation to a question on the impact of the incident on the finances of the Fire and Rescue service, it was noted that the unprecedented precept increase earlier this year had helped to shore up reserves and provide a much needed buffer to provide long term resilience for the service. Bellwin support was applied for early and the wider costs of the incident will be made public when they are finalised. Panel members would be kept informed of the finance reports as they become available.
Ensuring that the fire equipment and appliances meets the current and future needs of the service would form part of the review of the response to the wildfire. It was noted that the Mayor and the Combined Authority are looking at the land management and recovery work and how to look after the environment for the long-term and help minimise the future fire risks.
Further questions were raised regarding the approach of the service to munitions fires and how the wildfire incident has informed thinking for the future would be responded to in writing. Reassurance also was sought on the timeline for the post implementation review and how the recommendations that come out of it would be monitored. The national resilience of the fire and rescue service was also touched on, given the changes in the climate experienced in recent years. If the situation arose where four or five wildfires were to start at the same time, is there the capacity to provide adequate cover across the country.
Resolved
The Panel notes the verbal update received.