North Yorkshire visitors warned over wildfire sparks

By Munisha News Desk

Visitors, drivers and campers in the North York Moors are being urged to cut out small fire risks after the Langdale Forest and Fylingdales Moor wildfire became the biggest recorded wildfire in the history of North York Moors National Park.

The fire was declared a major incident on 12 August 2025. Now the North York Moors National Park has launched the Don’t Spark Disaster campaign, asking people to think about the everyday actions that can start a blaze in dry countryside.

Tiny sparks that can start a moorland fire

The warning is aimed at anyone travelling through or spending time in the national park, including walkers, day visitors, campers and motorists using roads across the moors.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service receives many fire-related call-outs in the national park each year. Some are put out quickly, but others can burn for days, drawing in crews, damaging habitats and disrupting farms, roads and visitor access.

The risks highlighted in the campaign are simple but serious:

• Do not drop cigarettes or matches anywhere, including from car windows.
• Take glass bottles and reflective litter home, as sunlight can be magnified onto dry vegetation.
• Do not use disposable barbecues, gas barbecues or campfires where they can ignite grass, heather or peat.
• Clear away litter rather than leaving it near paths, verges or parking areas.
• Report smoke or flames quickly so crews can respond before a fire spreads.

Why Fylingdales Moor changed the warning

The Langdale Forest and Fylingdales Moor wildfire showed how quickly a countryside fire can become a major incident when conditions allow flames to travel across open ground.

Moorland fires are not only a short-term emergency. They can damage nesting sites, destroy vegetation, expose peat, harm archaeology and affect grazing land. Recovery work can continue long after the smoke has cleared, especially in landscapes where habitats take years to rebuild.

For local communities, the impact can also be practical. Fire crews may be tied up for long periods, roads can be disrupted, and farmers and land managers may face damage to fences, grazing and access routes.

Safe choices before you visit the moors

The safest approach is to plan as though the ground may be more vulnerable than it looks. Dry grass, heather, roadside verges and forest edges can all catch from a small heat source.

Visitors should pack food that does not require open flames, carry a small bag for litter, and check local signs when entering car parks, trails and moorland areas. Drivers should avoid throwing anything from a vehicle, even something that appears fully extinguished.

Anyone staying overnight should use proper permitted facilities and follow site rules. A campfire or barbecue that seems controlled in one spot can spread through sparks, hot ash or heat left behind after people leave.

A preventable risk across the North York Moors

The Don’t Spark Disaster campaign is built around one clear point: many wildfire causes are avoidable. A cigarette end, a match, a glass bottle or a barbecue may look minor on its own, but each can become the first ignition point in the wrong conditions.

The national park remains a working and living landscape as well as a visitor destination. That means fire prevention protects more than a view. It helps safeguard wildlife, archaeology, farms, emergency services and public access across the area.

North York Moors National Park is directing people to information on the Fylingdales Moor fire recovery and ongoing work. Visitors planning a trip should check local advice before travelling and leave the moors without anything that could spark, reflect heat or keep burning.

Source: North Yorkshire Council

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Source check Source trail

This article was adapted from a North Yorkshire Council notice about wildfire prevention in the North York Moors.

Checks

• Checked the named wildfire location against the source text: Langdale Forest and Fylingdal...
• Kept the major incident date as 12 August 2025.
• Separated practical safety advice from wider local impact.
• Used only the fire causes listed in the source notice.

North Yorkshire Council Check wider coverage

Source

North Yorkshire Council

Scope

North York Moors National Park

Updated

2026-06-10 08:33

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Article contextPeople & topics#7

#Don't Spark Disaster campaign#Fylingdales Moor#Langdale Forest#moorland fire prevention#North York Moors National Park#North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service#North Yorkshire wildfire

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