Wild fire prevention, statistics and information: EIR release

Information requested

‘The likelihood of ignition and the impact of wildfire are changing in the National Park as visitor numbers increase and changing land management practices increase fuel loads in some places. Public concern around the wildfire issue has risen in recent years. In light of these changes, the Integrated Wildfire Management Plan (IWMP) takes a strategic approach to assessing the likelihood of wildfire, the impacts and opportunities for mitigating and managing escalating risks."

1. Why on earth would you even consider creating another National Park before solving this problem in the Cairngorms?

2. How much damage has been done to wildlife and peat over the past month in Dumfries and Galloway, due to wild fires?

3. How much damage has been done to wildlife and peat over the past month in Scotland, due to wild fires?

4. How much damage has been done to wildlife and peat over the past month in the UK, due to wild fires?

The answers to questions 2,3,4 would require some assessment.

5. Why are you promoting leisure activities over the health of the nation? The additional funding to the fire service will be far out stripped by inflation as per the Fire Brigades Union - https://www.fbu.org.uk/news/2025/02/26/fire-service-funding-scottish-budget-wont-touch-sides-says-firefighters-union 

There are residents in Dumfries and Galloway who have recently been evacuated due to wild fires. Skyhook Helicoptors have been used to fight wild fires as the fire service do not have the necessary equipment.

6. How will fires be fought if the private aerial fire fighting companies go out of business?

7. Do you have people in government that read and approve eg the Cairngorms fire fighting plan?

8. Will compensation be available if wild fires increase due to an increase in tourists?’

Response

Question 1

The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2021-22 committed the Scottish Government to designating at least one new national park by the end of this parliamentary session, should legal conditions be met.

The public interest in the proposed National Park has proven huge and we are aware that there is both support and opposition. More than 1000 people have attended consultation events and drop-in sessions across the proposed area and over 5000 consultation surveys have been completed.

NatureScot will analyse every response to the consultation as well as the reports of the consultation events. NatureScot will then report to the Scottish Government on the findings of the consultation, along with advice on the proposal and any alternative suggestions.

When we receive NatureScot’s report, we will carefully consider the findings before making any further decisions.

Questions 2 and 3

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the specific information you have requested as we do not hold data in relation to the amount of damage caused to wildlife and/or peatland in Dumfries and Galloway due to wildfires for the time period noted in your request. Therefore, with respect to your request this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

You also may wish to contact Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) to request the information you are seeking. Contact information for SWT can be found here.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Wider guidance on the Environmental Information regime can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document. Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Question 4

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the specific information you have requested as we do not hold data in relation to the amount of damage caused to wildlife and/or peatland due to wildfires for the time period noted in your request for areas of the United Kingdom outwith Scotland. Therefore, with respect to your request this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

You may wish to contact the UK Government and Devolved Administrations using the below noted links to request the information you are seeking:

• UK Government
• Welsh Government
• Northern Ireland Assembly

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Wider guidance on the Environmental Information regime can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document. Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Question 5

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the specific information you have requested with regards to the promotion of leisure activities. Therefore, with respect to your request this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

In regards to fire service funding it may help if I explain that as part of the Scottish Governments 2025-26 budget the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was provided with £412.2 million which is an increase of £18.8 million versus the 2024-25 budget. This uplift includes £14.8 million to support delivery of front-line services and £4m to improve facilities for firefighters. You may wish to review Table 7.16 of the full budget document which provides a comparison of SFRS budget figures and can be found on page 68.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Wider guidance on the Environmental Information regime can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document. Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Question 6

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the specific information you have requested. Therefore, with respect to your request this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Responding to wildfires is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). It may help if I explain that the use of helicopters constitutes only a part of the overall response for tackling wildfires in Scotland in conjunction with firefighters from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The Scottish Government are unable to comment on potential scenarios where one or more of the current helicopter service providers ceases to operate. I would also highlight that NatureScot are responsible for the management of the Public Sector Framework contract in place with existing helicopter service providers and may be able to provide the information you are seeking. Contact information for NatureScot can be found here.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Wider guidance on the Environmental Information regime can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document. Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Question 7

The Scottish Government do not receive, nor have any oversight of, firefighting plans for the Cairngorms National Park.

Question 8

There are no plans for compensation to be made available from the Scottish Government for potential scenarios where wildfires have been caused by, or linked to, an increase in tourism within a specific area.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.