North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service publishes debrief following major wildfire incident
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has today published its major incident debrief following the Fylingdales Moor/Langdale End wildfire, one of the most significant incidents ever faced by the Service.
The wildfire happened in summer 2025 and required a long, coordinated response involving many organisations working together. At its peak, it affected a large area (over 20km) of moorland and forest.
The incident was particularly complex as the fire occurred in a remote area with limited water supplies and difficult access. Parts of the site had previously been used as a military training range, meaning crews also had to work around the risk of unexploded ordnance.
Despite these challenges, there was no loss of life, no serious injuries and no damage to homes. Critical infrastructure at RAF Fylingdales was also successfully protected
The report provides a clear review of how the incident was handled, based on operational data, decision records and feedback from staff involved.
It highlights several key strengths, including:
- teamwork between more than 30 partner organisations
- successful protection of communities, homes and infrastructure
- clear command structures and use of specialist wildfire expertise
The report also sets out where improvements can be made, including:
- enhancing wildfire pre-planning and sharing of wildfire and other risk information
- strengthening resilience for long-running incidents
- developing scalable welfare and support for staff over extended periods
Chief Fire Officer Jonathan Dyson said: “I would like to take this opportunity to again thank our staff, partner agencies, other fire and rescue services, landowners and farmers and local communities for the support they provided both during the incident and since.
“This debrief provides a clear account of our response to one of the most significant wildfire incidents we have faced. It highlights what worked well, but also where we need to improve, so we can continue to strengthen how we prepare for and respond to incidents of this scale.
“Since the incident, we have already taken steps to strengthen our safety messaging working more closely with partners. We have also improved our ability to operate in remote areas by developing new water supply arrangements with farmers and we are working with landowners and partners through a North Yorkshire Fire Operations Group to improve coordination and shared understanding of wildfire risk.
“The remaining areas identified in the debrief will be taken forward through a structured improvement programme to ensure learning is fully embedded and put into practice.”
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire said: “The Langdale wildfire was a defining moment for our region, highlighting both the scale of the challenge we face and the importance of being prepared for it.
“Jo and I have spoken to businesses and landowners in the area and understand the impact they still face. This was a truly North Yorkshire response and I will always be in awe of the bravery and commitment of our firefighters, farmers, landowners and everyone that came together to tackle this unprecedented incident. We are seeing the impact of more extreme weather in the countryside, our communities, and our economy. Incidents like this reinforce the need to think long-term about resilience, how we manage our land, how we support our emergency services, and how we work together to reduce risk.
“This debrief helps build that bigger picture. It’s not just about learning from one incident, but about shaping how we respond to a changing environment. I will continue to work with partners and government to ensure North Yorkshire has the recognition and investment it needs to meet these challenges head-on.”
Jo Coles, Deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime said: “This was one of the most significant incidents North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has ever faced, and I want to once again recognise the extraordinary efforts of fire fighters, partners such as farmers and landowners as well as the local community whose combined effort was instrumental in tackling this extraordinary fire. It’s vital that lessons are learned following an incident on this scale so that we can improve the prevention and protection work that will keep people safe from future risks across the county – this debrief is a crucial part of that process. The work to improve prevention of future wildfires is already underway and I will continue work closely with Mayor David Skaith to hold the fire and rescue service to account for those changes on behalf of the public.”
You can read the full debrief report on our website: Fylingdales Moor/Langdale Wildfire – North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
We have also released a redacted version of Fire Investigation report which can be viewed on the same link Fylingdales Moor/Langdale Wildfire – North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
The multi-agency debrief into how partners worked together in response to North Yorkshire’s worst wildfire has also been published. The review, undertaken by North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum sets out a roadmap designed to support an even stronger emergency response in the future.
It is the result of detailed evidence gathering and feedback on the multi-agency response to the Fylingdales Moor fire in summer 2025. The report recognises the good practice across agencies and acknowledges the collaboration and commitment shown by partners, people and communities in the face of unprecedented danger here.
It also reflects on opportunities to learn, and its recommendations are designed to strengthen how agencies prepare for and respond to major incidents in the future, particularly in the face of the threats from global warming and the high likelihood of more extreme weather events.
Read the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum report on their website: Fylingdales Moor fire response reports | North Yorkshire Council
Watch Chief Fire Officer Jonathan Dyson talking about the debrief https://youtu.be/_2eEX6r4uqU
