Hot, dry, and windy weather provides ideal conditions for wildfires. They present a real danger to life, property, wildlife and the environment.

Risks of wildfires

Wildfires are easily started and can spread rapidly, putting people, property and wildlife at risk. There are also long-term impacts in terms of restoration of the landscape, public health, air quality, water quality and business.  

Prevent a wildfire

• Never use disposable barbecues in open spaces
• Do not light campfires - they can become out of control easily and spread rapidly
• Take all your litter home with you, especially glass bottles which can concentrate the sun’s rays and start a fire
• Avoid smoking in the countryside. If you do, put out your cigarettes thoroughly and take them home with you
• Keep children away from lighters and matches
• Regularly check your smoke alarm is working
• Plan an escape route with your family and pick a safe space in case your route is blocked
• Book a free home fire safety check from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

You can find more advice on wildfire prevention from the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

Advice on sheltering in smoke-affected areas during hot conditions

You should:

• avoid areas affected by smoke
• draw curtains to limit direct sunlight heating-up internal surfaces
• use fans to recirculate air within the house to help keep cool
• take a break from the heat by moving to a cooler part of the house (especially for sleeping)
• wear lighter clothing
• keep hydrated with cool drinks
• check that central heating, lights and electrical equipment not in use are turned off
• set any air conditioning (preferably fitted with a HEPA filter) to recirculate mode
• open windows that are on the opposite side to the plume or smoke when it is safe to do so and when the air feels cooler outside than inside to get air flowing through the home, for example, at night
• once the smoke has moved away, consider opening doors and windows to allow properties to cool down, being mindful of changing conditions and that the smoke could return
• if driving in smoky areas, keep your windows wound up, air vents closed and switch off air conditioning systems to prevent drawing in outside air

You can find more information about staying cool in hot weather on our hot weather page.

Looking after your health

• while causing short-term, poor air quality, exposure to smoke from large-scale wildfires is unlikely to contribute to any long-term health effects. In general, exposure to smoke is more likely to affect people who have existing breathing problems, lung or heart conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis, chronic pulmonary disease or heart disease. The very young and very old, smokers and people with flu or flu-like illnesses may also be at greater risk after exposure to smoke from fires
• smoke can irritate air passages, skin and eyes, resulting in coughing and wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain. Individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, such as asthma, should carry any necessary medication or inhalers with them at all times and seek medical advice if their symptoms worsen, by contacting their GP or NHS 111
• anyone experiencing discomfort, such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat, should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors