Wildfires: strategic action plan

Annex A - SMARTEU Debrief Summary of Recommendations, Observations, Notable Practices and Sponsor Comments

Recommendations

Recommendation 1

The responsibility and mechanism for producing Wildfire Danger Assessments should be reviewed. Part of this should include the analysis required, the distribution and publication to ensure target audiences are reached. A robust Communication Strategy should support the revised mechanism including all options to reach and land messages with the public.

Recommendation 2

SFRS should engage with land and estate owners to encourage the production, and sharing of, relevant risk assessments and incident response plans, incorporating an appropriate review process.

Recommendation 3

A review should be undertaken in respect of assets registered on the Community Asset Register (CAR). This should include in relation to wildfires but also include a wider review to consider the need for appropriate insurance to be in place so resources are able to respond to incidents, as well as competency to operate / accreditation.

This review should include what mechanisms need to be in place to include ‘civilian’ resource into an emergency response achieving Command, Control and Coordination to reduce the risk of ‘near misses’ and ensure a safe response for all. Where near misses occur, a process should be in place to properly record and learn from these.

Recommendation 4

SFRS in consultation and collaboration with Local / Regional Resilience Partnerships and SMARTEU to consider jointly what planning, training and exercising is required to achieve shared understanding of response, equipment available and safe systems of work to provide assurance of preparedness at a local, regional and national level.

Recommendation 5

The wider review of wildfire preparedness and response should include commissioning and thereafter tasking, Command and Control of air assets.

Recommendation 6

SFRS should review their resilience in provision of Tactical Advisors.

Recommendation 7

SFRS should consider a review of welfare support provision following mobilisation to an incident ground and how best to utilise all personnel to respond to the crisis and support those responders including using any excess personnel, including whole time and on-call personnel, to best effect.

Recommendation 8

SFRS should explore with Scottish Government and partners suitable and sustainable options in respect of insurance for volunteers / responders wildfire response equipment including estates.

Observations

Observation 1

Policy and law makers, including Scottish Government, should be aware of the unintended consequence of any reduction in the use of fuel load management techniques which will likely negatively impact the incidence, spread and ferocity of wildfires.

Observation 2

Consideration should be given to the review and impact of the legislation specific to the Cairngorms National Park with a view of whether the adoption of similar legislation for Scotland is desired and indicated.

Observation 3

Consideration should be given to the review of outdoor access guidance to take opportunities to strengthen supportive messaging and counter the promotion of open flame activity such as campfires and barbecues in tourist literature.

Observation 4

Clarity is required regarding the alerting, tasking and coordination of air assets when responding to wildfire incidents, including increased knowledge of their capabilities.

Observation 5

There appears to be a desire for a review of the requirements for Wildfire Groups, the role they play, and who should own the responsibility to maintain them.

Observation 6

There was significant concern that the estimated extent of private equipment which was brought to scene, excluding helicopters, and assessed to be in excess of the SFRS resource on scene, would be at risk if legislative change in respect of the muirburn process is continued and introduced.

Notable Practices

Notable Practice 1

Utilisation of aerial resources by commanders to obtain situational awareness was used to good effect and should be considered best practice in future events.

Sponsor Comments

Sponsor Comment 1

SFRS are in the process of introducing a new command and control mobilisation system, this will address some of the challenges and frustrations shared by stakeholders. It is envisaged that preparedness, in respect of requirements around engagement and sharing of information for wildfire and other new and emerging risks, will be enhanced.

Sponsor Comment 2

Current assets that can be deployed as part of our wildfire Response Strategy.

35 Wildfire Stations (consisting of):

• 10 Tier 3 ATV Stations
• 25 Tier 2 Stations (All firefighters trained in advanced wildfire theory)
• 4 of the Tier 2 stations will shortly be able to deploy with Iveco 4x4 Wildfire Support Vehicles
• Incident Support Van within Stornoway kitted out with 4 x Leaf Blowers and 2 Brush Cutters.
• 14 Flexi Duty Officer Wildfire Tactical Advisors.