Throughout the incident, responders faced highly variable fire behaviour and rates of spread. Shifting wind direction and strength, combined with heat and very dry fuel conditions, led to rapid and occasionally unpredictable fire development. These factors significantly complicated containment efforts and increased risk to responders.

Fire behaviour was driven by the interaction between surface fuels and peat. Vegetation such as grass and heather supported fastmoving surface fire, while underlying peat acted as a deep, carbon rich fuel capable of burning at high temperatures for prolonged periods. This created a dual challenge of rapid surface spread alongside deeper, sustained burning. Peat fires can smoulder unseen and reemerge beyond visible fire edges, making detection and full extinguishment difficult. As a result, operations required a flexible approach that balanced immediate firefighting with longer-term containment, cooling and monitoring.

Terrain and land conditions further influenced fire development. Extensive areas of continuous moorland fuel, with few natural or man made firebreaks, allowed fire to spread with limited interruption. Wind and slope effects also contributed to increased fire speed and intensity in certain locations.

At times, the fire exhibited more extreme behaviour. Intense heat generated strong upward air movement, influencing local wind conditions across the fireground. This led to erratic fire behaviour, including sudden changes in direction and the movement of burning material ahead of the main fire front, causing new ignitions beyond established control lines.

In some areas, site specific hazards, including the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO), further restricted access and reduced the range of tactical options available, necessitating a cautious and controlled approach to ensure responder safety. The incident also highlights the potential influence of evolving land management practices. The introduction of the Heather and Grass Management Code 2025 may affect fuel continuity in similar environments, with implications for future fire behaviour.

More broadly, the incident reflects a growing trend associated with climate change. Warmer temperatures, prolonged dry periods and reduced soil moisture dry out vegetation and peat, making fires easier to ignite and sustain for longer. These conditions extend the wildfire season and increase both the speed and intensity of fire spread. Lower humidity and more variable weather patterns can also cause sudden changes in wind direction, further increasing unpredictability.

At larger scales, wildfires can begin to influence their own local conditions. Intense heat generates strong updrafts that draw in surrounding air, creating localised winds that can change direction and intensity around the fireground. In more extreme cases, this can lead to fire driven cloud systems and localised microclimates, increasing the potential for rapid escalation. Such behaviour was observed during this incident.

These risks are particularly relevant in North Yorkshire, given the scale of its moorland, peatland and National Park environments, including the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales. These landscapes contain large areas of continuous fuel, often in remote locations with limited access, increasing both the likelihood of wildfire and the potential for rapid and sustained fire spread.

There is therefore a need to revisit planning assumptions and draw learning from regions with more frequent large scale wildfires. Adapting to this changing risk profile will support more informed planning, improved preparedness, and safer, more effective operational response.

What Worked Well

• Strong recognition of complex fire behaviour, with tactics adapted effectively to both surface and peat fire dynamics
• Flexible, risk-based approach balancing immediate firefighting with longer-term containment and monitoring
• Clear prioritisation of responder safety in a hazardous and unpredictable environment
• Effective use of local intelligence, including terrain, weather and site-specific risks such as UXO.

Learning Opportunities

• Strengthen understanding and planning for extreme, rapidly changing wildfire behaviour, supported by improved use environmental data and predictive modelling
• Review and update planning assumptions to reflect the increasing likelihood of high-intensity, fast-moving wildfires, incorporating learning from international incidents and evolving land management practices
• Ensure off-scene command structures such as TCG and SCG maintain a clear focus on strategic intent and co-ordination, enabling on-scene commanders and subject matter experts to lead tactical decision-making, with an approach that remains adaptable to rapidly changing conditions.