In the period leading up to 25 August 2025, warning and informing activity formed a core part of the response. As fire behaviour and weather conditions evolved, communities were kept informed through proportionate public safety messaging, supporting awareness, reassurance and preparedness during periods of heightened risk. This approach enabled early consideration of potential escalation while avoiding unnecessary alarm and ensured communities understood that the situation was being actively monitored.

During the Bank Holiday weekend on 25 August, a significant increase in the rate of fire spread led to a precautionary decision to evacuate a number of locations to protect life. This included Grouse Hill, May Beck and Flask Caravan Parks, along with a partial evacuation of businesses north of the B1416. Residents were moved safely to designated locations, supported by well coordinated multi-agency arrangements.

In parallel, and at the request of the Strategic Coordinating Group (SCG), the Tactical Coordinating Group (TCG) developed a suite of evacuation and shelter plans to ensure readiness should the incident escalate further. Although these plans were not ultimately required, due to effective operational activity by Fire and Rescue Services, partner agencies and local farmers, their development provided confidence that further escalation could be managed in a controlled and coordinated manner.

Evacuation and shelter plans were produced for Ravenscar, Hackness, Newton Dale, Goathland, Sleights, Stainsacre and Robin Hood’s Bay. Each plan followed a consistent framework, setting out clear escalation triggers, notification procedures and detailed evacuation arrangements. This included population data, identification of vulnerable residents, transport requirements and the scale and nature of residential, commercial and agricultural premises within each area.

Arrangements for warning and informing were embedded within all plans, including door knocking, social media messaging, standard communications and consideration of emergency alert systems, providing multiple and proportionate routes to reach the public if required. Shelter planning identified suitable rest centres, supported by defined staffing, equipment, identification and close down arrangements.

The incident also highlighted the importance of public reassurance around how evacuation instructions would be communicated if required. While escalation and evacuation planning was robust, clearer reassurance to communities that they would be directly informed if they needed to leave would have further strengthened confidence during periods of uncertainty. As part of preparedness activity, plans included consideration of the National Emergency Alerts system, and draft alert messages were prepared on 27 August should activation have been required. Although deployment was not necessary, this ensured a rapid and direct public warning mechanism was available.

Overall, evacuation and shelter arrangements demonstrated strong preparedness, effective multi-agency coordination and the ability to scale at pace in a dynamic and high risk environment. The planning undertaken strengthened situational confidence and ensured that, had conditions deteriorated further, communities could have been protected swiftly, proportionately and safely.

What Worked Well
• Issued early and proportionate warning and informing messages ahead of 25 August, supporting community awareness during periods of heightened risk
• Made timely, risk based decisions on evacuation on 25 August, prioritising life safety and protecting communities
• Established an Evacuation and Shelter Cell quickly to coordinate multiagency planning for escalation scenarios
• Developed robust evacuation and shelter plans for multiple locations, providing confidence and readiness if further action was required
• Integrated CHEMET plume modelling and local intelligence to inform public health messaging and evacuation considerations
• Maintained clear multi-agency coordination throughout warning, evacuation and shelter planning

Learning Opportunities
• Strengthen public perception on how evacuation instructions would be
communicated, including clearer messaging on notification methods
• Improve communication of response stages (warning, prepare to evacuate,
evacuate, shelter in place) to ensure shared understanding across partners
and communities
• Further integrate predictive tools such as Chem Met into evacuation planning and decision-making triggers, particularly where access constraints, such as the closure of key roads, may require earlier intervention.