Fylingdales Moor fire recovery

Recovery and ongoing response update

The Fylingdales Moor wildfire, the largest in North Yorkshire’s history, continues to require a coordinated, long-term recovery effort across communities, businesses, and the environment.

Partners across the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum continue to work together to support those affected and restore the landscape.

Support for those affected

Partners continue to press government for financial support for those affected, including farmers, landowners, graziers and businesses impacted by the worst wildfire in North Yorkshire’s history.

Our position has always been that, had this been a flooding incident, a government framework would have unlocked funds, and we have, and will continue to make the case for wildfires to be treated in the same way.

We have now received a response from government that there is no compensation available for local businesses, farmers and landowners impacted.

In response, we are working with Two Ridings Community Foundation, to put one-off limited support in place for businesses that were required to be evacuated by Fire and Rescue Service due to the danger to life risk and forced to close due to the blaze, via the North Yorkshire Extreme Weather Business Support Fund.

The Major Incident Response Team (MIRT) continues to offer confidential emotional and practical support for those affected. Team members are specially trained and can be contacted anytime on 07974 745194 or by emailing MIRT@northyorks.gov.uk.

If you would like to find out more about community support available email community.recovery@northyorks.gov.uk.

Environmental recovery and restoration

The North York Moors National Park Authority is continuing to work with Defra and Natural England to secure funding for the restoration of land on Fylingdales Moor. While confirmation is awaiting, it is understood that Defra is looking to provide substantial support for restoration, combined with match funding the National Park Authority has secured form other sources, including the authority's Section 106 allocations.

Funding is expected to be time limited, therefore the National Park Authority is opening a tender exercise for restoration works. The tender submission deadline is 5pm on Friday 19 June 2026.

The National Park Authority continues to lead the environmental recovery as part of a coordinated partnership response. This brings together Natural England, Historic England, the Strickland Estate, the Duchy of Lancaster Estate, the Fyling Court Leet and Fylingdales Moor ESS Ltd, to oversee recovery and ensure work is carefully coordinated.

The recovery programme has been carefully designed to ensure the moorland continues to function as the vibrant, working landscape it has always been. This includes supporting a mosaic of habitats, sustaining grazing and farming activity, and protecting the historic environment features that make this place so distinctive. As well as restoring what was lost, the programme aims to enhance Fylingdales Moor's long-term resilience for the communities, visitors and wildlife that depend on it.

Forestry England has also begun a targeted programme of work to restore firebreaks, rehabilitate damaged forest environments, and recover sensitive conservation areas affected by the wildfire.

The recovery work will prioritise the reinstatement and improvement of firebreaks, helping to strengthen forest resilience to future environmental pressures, including wildfires. Alongside this, Forestry England is restoring sensitive conservation sites, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), to support biodiversity recovery and encourage the return of native wildlife and plant species.

Further updates will be shared as restoration work continues. In the meantime, please visit the North York Moors website.

Don't Spark Disaster public awareness campaign

The National Park Authority is leading a partnership, working alongside North Yorkshire Council and its tourism arm Visit North Yorkshire, Forestry England, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, to deliver a focused awareness campaign this summer on human actions that could result in wildfire.

The 'Don't Spark Disaster' campaign, feature impactful educational messages to remind potential visitors and residents that a small action or a tiny object can be a cause of fire. Did you know…

A discarded cigarette or match anywhere, including from car windows along any road, can cause a tiny spark, which can start an uncontrollable blaze
Glass bottles or reflective litter can magnify sunlight, which will ignite dry vegetation through them
Barbeques – disposable or gas – and campfires can wreak havoc in surprising ways

Former military training area: do not touch metal objects

The intense heat of the wildfire detonated more than 20 explosive devices on Fylingdales Moor that had previously lain dormant beneath the ground. There have been no further explosions since the major incident status was stepped down in September, however, the loss of surface peat and vegetation has exposed further historic military debris. While most of these items are harmless, there remains a serious risk that unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains present.

Disturbing the ground is extremely dangerous, please keep to the path and remain vigilant.

If you encounter a suspicious metal object:

Do NOT touch it
Note the exact location (preferably using What3Words)
Report it immediately by dialling 999 and asking for the police

Investigation into the fire

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has concluded a detailed investigation into the Fylingdales Moor wildfire.

Following extensive enquiries, including the taking of witness statements, the review of footage and videos, detailed inspection of the site and analysis of fire patterns, the cause of the fire is believed to have been caused by cooking with a naked flame, such as a campfire or gas burner.

The incident was particularly challenging due to its location in a very remote area of moorland, with limited water supplies and difficult access for emergency responders. It serves as a stark reminder of how quickly wildfires can take hold, especially during hot, dry and windy conditions like those experienced last summer.

Further information

The Recovery Coordination Group consists of ourselves, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, North Yorkshire Police, the North York Moors National Park Authority, Forestry England, the Ministry of Defence and other partner agencies.

Further information can be found on the following partner website pages: