How might wildfires be managed in the future?

Climate change is believed to be responsible for the increasing frequency of wildfires.  This trend is expected to continue, along with an increase in their severity and extent.  The August 2020 fire burned for 10 days on Chobham Common and adjacent land, destroying 30 hectares of habitat on the reserve.  Further spread was prevented by the work of a large team of firefighters, aided by the existence of firebreaks, although the fire had already spread across a main road, showing that firebreaks alone cannot always adequately contain wildfire.  This large fire, close to housing, led to the precautionary evacuation of over 100 residents for at least 2 days.

The Fire Severity Index (FSI) is a Met Office assessment of the likely severity of a wildfire which breaks out on a specific day.  It does not indicate the probability of a fire starting.  The FSI takes account of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall.  On 31 January 2022, a fire started on Chobham Common.  Exceptionally dry weather is thought to have aided its initial spread.  The south of England had received just 30% of the usual amount of rainfall for the month.  However, the FSI was level 2 (moderate) and the fire was successfully extinguished by firefighters after spreading over 4 hectares, with lower daytime temperatures making their task easier than during warmer months.  As most wildfires are started by some type of human activity, procedures have been developed to exclude visitors from vulnerable open access countryside land should the FSI reach level 5 (exceptional).  You can check the FSI forecast for the next 5 days here: Fsi - Met Office.

Given the frequency of wildfires on Chobham Common, its importance for wildlife, and neighbouring residents’ concerns, it is important to find effective ways to reduce risks as climate change continues.  A Forestry Commission wildfire expert has been engaged to create a management plan, in consultation with stakeholders including local residents.  This is intended to inform habitat management interventions from October 2022.

How can we all reduce the risk of wildfire and stay safe?

We can act responsibly when visiting the countryside and encourage others to do so too.  A small fire can easily get out of control.  Ideally, barbecues should be left at home and picnics enjoyed instead.  Barbecues should not be lit in unauthorised areas and should never be left unattended.  Disposable barbecues are particularly hazardous.  Visitors should avoid dropping litter and cigarette ends, or throwing these out of car windows.  Camp fires should not be started on Surrey’s commons, and residents should avoid lighting garden bonfires on hot days, during periods of drought, or in gardens close to heathland or woodland.  Access for off-road firefighting vehicles is important for a rapid and effective response, so make sure emergency access points (often closed to public vehicles) are not blocked when parking.

If you see any signs of fire, or have accidentally started a fire, report this as soon as safely possible so prompt action can be taken to contain it.  Unless you have a bucket of water to hand and the fire is small enough to be extinguished immediately, attempting to tackle it yourself will be dangerous and probably unsuccessful.  Move away from the flames and the direction in which they are spreading.  A safer location will usually be upwind and/or downhill, as fire spreads rapidly uphill and flames are also blown by the wind.  When considering your personal safety remember that wind speed and direction can change rapidly.  Report the fire by calling 999.  Use location apps, landmarks, or road names to describe the location.

Remember that fire can smoulder underground, particularly in peat soils which are present in some heathland areas, and the ground may be dangerously hot for some time after surface flames have disappeared.  Contact with the air could enable flames to reignite at the surface.

Are there any other ways to help?

A recent UN report recommended that there should be greater focus on prevention, planning and preparation, as climate change is expected to lead to larger and more frequent wildfires.  Communities and individuals can help to reduce risks to themselves and others.  If your home is in a high-risk area, there are actions you can take, including managing vegetation growth around buildings.  Surrey Fire and Rescue Service may be able to provide further advice on how best to do this.  With 40 sites to cover, they also need more dog walkers to join the K9 wildfire patrol.  Volunteers act as fire prevention ambassadors, engaging with the public, and looking out for signs of wildfire and high risk sites on their usual walks.  They may support the Fire Service at community events.  There is evidence that community education can reduce incidence of wildfires.  Damaged access gates, fly tipping and frequently used ‘campfire’ sites all indicate high risk.  These locations can be targeted for further action, monitoring, patrols or vegetation removal.  Volunteers are provided with resources such as leaflets, and ‘uniform’ dog jackets.  To join the K9 Fire Patrol or find out more, click here: Volunteer for the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service - Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk) .

Don’t forget that you can also get involved with nature conservation and heathland management tasks by volunteering with SWT.

By Elaine Brindley

Other blogs in this series

Wildfires: An introduction

Wildfires: Current Heathland Management