Rt Hon MS, First Minister of
Wales: I would like to update Members on our progress in reducing
and responding to the risk of wildfire, following the summit
convened in Merthyr Tydfil earlier today. With over forty
representatives from the public and private sectors as well as
volunteers and other stakeholders, it was a clear demonstration
of the seriousness with which partners have come together to
address this challenge collectively and learn all possible
lessons from the wildfires this summer.
It was a highly productive and practical discussion covering many
aspects of how we can reduce the likelihood of wildfires
occurring and ensure we are best placed to respond when they
do.
There was strong agreement that central to what we are trying to
do is building the resilience of Wales, with wildfires being one
if the real challenges we face.
Some proposals require further rapid work with partners to
develop fully, but we will take forward the following as a
priority:
- Multi-agency work to support
a strengthened All-Wales Wildfire Board to
bring together all partners on a national basis to prepare for
next year's wildfire season, covering early intervention
strategies, risk management, public communications, and
multi-agency co-ordination.
- A new pan-Wales approach to monitoring spring and summer
resilience risks to ensure government departments and the
responder community have a focused and consolidated risk picture
for prioritising planning and resourcing.
- A rapid evidence review to better understand the role of land
management in supporting wildfire resilience and a separate
review of the Heather and Grass Burning Code.
- Bringing in international expertise to support Welsh Fire and
Rescue Services with training and preparation.
- A structured pan-Wales register for farmers and landowners to
indicate their willingness to provide vehicles, equipment and
local knowledge to help with a firefighting response.
- A review of evidence and options with the fire and rescue
services on improved health monitoring and decontamination
procedures.
- Exploration of further preventative actions to reduce risk,
including renewed efforts around public engagement to highlight
risks and how we can minimise them.
- Continued work with UK Government and other devolved
administrations to deliver a comprehensive nationwide solution to
the current lack of UK aerial firefighting assets.
I wish to place on record once again our gratitude to all those
involved in fighting this summer's unprecedented fires, and their
engagement in today's Summit. There is an absolute determination
to make sure we are collectively prepared for what is likely to
be another difficult spring and summer in 2027. I will provide
the Senedd with further updates on these and work on other
actions as that information becomes available.
