On Friday 23 October the Prime Minister hosted England’s first Wildfire Summit in Liverpool, bringing together ministers, fire chiefs and land managers after a record wildfire year. The NFU attended as the only farming representative and pressed for a National Wildfire Strategy for England and Wales that formally recognises the part farmers play when fires break out.
Ahead of the summit the government announced up to £45 million for specialist wildfire teams and lightweight firefighter kit, plans for RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft to support crews on remote terrain, £25 million to restore dried-out peatland, and financial support for farmers to reduce fire risk on their land, including digging ponds and removing burnable material in high-risk areas.
Why it matters for farms
The National Fire Chiefs Council figures reported by the BBC put the number of wildfires in England and Wales this year at 1,350, an all-time high. The NFU says nearly 48,000 hectares burned across the UK in 2025, around seven times the 2006–2024 annual average. Fires on farmland can destroy crops, kill livestock and spread to buildings, homes and neighbouring land.
Some of what was announced is confirmed and some is still being worked out. Confirmed: the funding headlines above, and the government’s statement to Parliament on 26 October that it is updating the capital offer in the Environmental Land Management schemes to fund measures such as fire ponds, firebreaks, fuel management, grazing and scrub removal. Not yet published: the detailed eligibility rules, payment rates and the full national strategy. Treat any figures you see quoted for individual farms with caution until Defra publishes the detail.
Seven checks to make before next summer
1. Map where fire could start and spread
Walk the holding with a map and mark the higher-risk areas: moorland and rough grazing, dry grassland beside roads and public footpaths, standing crops and stubble, hedges and woodland edges, and anywhere bales, fuel or machinery are stored. Note which way fire would most likely travel in a strong wind and what sits in its path, such as livestock, buildings or a neighbour’s crop.
2. Plan firebreaks and fuel management over winter
Winter is the practical window for cutting, grazing and cultivating strips that break up continuous vegetation. Before doing any work, check whether the land is in an agreement, on a protected site or subject to rules on burning, as some activities need consent. Keep an eye on Defra and Rural Payments Agency updates, as the new capital funding for firebreaks and fuel management may help with costs once details are released.
3. Know your water sources
Fire crews in rural areas are often limited by water supply. List every pond, reservoir, tank, bowser and hydrant on or near the farm, note how much each holds and whether a vehicle can reach it in all weathers. If you are considering a new fire pond, check what permissions apply and whether it could qualify for the updated capital offer when it opens.
4. Keep access clear for fire appliances
The NFU points out that farmers often keep tracks, firebreaks and water points open, and that crews can struggle with poor access. Check that gateways are wide enough, that tracks are passable, and that keys or codes for locked gates are easy to find. Keep written directions and grid references for key fields with your emergency information, and decide who would meet crews at the road.
5. Reduce fire risk from machinery and vehicles
Hot exhausts, bearings and electrical faults can start fires in dry vegetation. Clean dust and chaff from engine bays, avoid parking hot vehicles on long dry grass, and carry a suitable, in-date fire extinguisher in tractor and pickup cabs. Make sure every driver knows where it is and how to use it, and that it is mounted securely so it cannot move under braking.
6. Agree how you would help, safely
Farmers frequently act as first responders, using local knowledge and kit such as tractors, cultivators and bowsers to help contain a fire. That help is valuable, but personal safety comes first. Call 999 early, follow the instructions of the fire and rescue service, never work downwind of a fire or let yourself be cut off, and talk to your local service now about how they would want farm equipment used in an emergency.
7. Check insurance, records and arson reporting
Review your cover for crops, buildings, livestock and machinery, including any equipment you might use to help fight a fire. Keep a simple record of fire prevention work, as it can support insurance and funding claims. Report deliberate fires to the police as well as the fire service; the NFU is calling for better prevention, reporting and investigation of arson on farms.
Fit matters as much as the kit
A well-organised cab makes it easier to act quickly. Fire extinguishers, first aid kits and phones should be secure and easy to reach, and anything fitted around the seats should never block seat belts, buckles, seat adjustment or seat-mounted safety equipment. Farm Packs supplies tailored seat covers and cab kits for farm and fleet vehicles. If you are reviewing cab set-up this winter, check the exact make, model and seat layout before ordering so covers fit properly, and follow the vehicle manufacturer’s guidance.
The practical takeaway
The wildfire summit set the direction, but the detail on funding and the national strategy is still to come. Farms do not need to wait for it to make a start. Map the risk, plan firebreaks and water over winter, keep access clear, look after machinery, and agree how you would respond safely. When Defra publishes the updated capital offer, you will be ready to act on it.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Military planes and helicopters to fight wildfires from the sky, published 22 October 2026.
- UK Parliament — Written statement HCWS418 on the Wildfire Summit, made 26 October 2026.
- NFU — NFU the only farming representative at landmark wildfire summit, published 23 October 2026.
- NFU — NFU calls for action to minimise wildfire risk, updated 21 October 2026.
- BBC News — UK to get ‘on front foot’ to fight wildfires, Andy Burnham says, published 22 October 2026, updated 23 October 2026.
- FarmingUK — NFU demands national wildfire strategy as farms face growing threat, published 26 October 2026.
This article is general guidance for farm and fleet operators and is not legal or insurance advice. Always follow current Defra, Natural England and fire and rescue service guidance, your own risk assessments, and the instructions of the emergency services.
