North Yorkshire Launches Wildfire Prevention Campaign – North Yorkshire Council

Don’t Spark Disaster: Simple Actions Can Protect Our Countryside

A new county-wide campaign is encouraging residents and visitors to play their part in preventing wildfires across North Yorkshire this summer. The Don’t Spark Disaster initiative brings together key organisations including the North York Moors National Park Authority, North Yorkshire Council, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Forestry England and North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service to raise awareness of wildfire risks and promote responsible behaviour outdoors. The campaign comes at a time of prolonged warm and dry conditions, when moorland, woodland and grassland are particularly vulnerable to fire. It also follows the devastating Fylingdales Moor wildfire, which became the largest wildfire ever recorded in the North York Moors National Park and continues to impact the landscape and local communities.

Throughout the summer, the campaign will highlight how everyday actions—such as discarding cigarettes, leaving litter behind, or using barbecues and campfires in the countryside—can have serious and long-lasting consequences for wildlife, habitats and emergency services.

Partners are encouraging people to continue enjoying North Yorkshire’s spectacular outdoor spaces, while taking simple precautions to help keep them safe. Businesses, community groups and local organisations are also being invited to support the campaign by sharing information and displaying campaign materials.

The message is straightforward: most wildfires are preventable, and a few simple choices can help protect North Yorkshire’s landscapes for future generations.

For more information about the campaign and wildfire prevention advice, visit the North York Moors National Park website and the presentation below.