Find more funding
There are many other organisations who may be offering funding that will help you, and our handy funding search tool brings them all together.
New National Action Plan launched to protect Scotland from rising wildfire risk
Scottish Government and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service unveil coordinated strategy to strengthen prevention, preparedness and multi‑agency response.
Scotland has launched a major new Strategic Action Plan for Wildfires, setting out a coordinated national approach to preventing, preparing for and responding to the country’s rapidly increasing wildfire risk. The plan, published on 5 March 2026, follows Scotland’s most severe wildfire season on record and marks a significant step forward in strengthening resilience across rural and urban communities.
The wildfire events of 2025 — including the largest wildfire ever recorded in the UK, which burned nearly 10,000 hectares around Carrbridge and Dava Moor — revealed with unprecedented clarity how vulnerable Scotland’s landscapes, communities and infrastructure have become to a changing climate. Thousands of hectares of peatland, woodland and moorland were lost, releasing vast quantities of carbon and disrupting livelihoods across rural Scotland.
In response, the new Strategic Action Plan sets out decisive, evidence‑based actions to improve public awareness, strengthen prevention and preparedness, enhance wildfire warning systems and ensure a consistent, multi‑agency response across Scotland. The plan was developed collaboratively with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), land managers, public bodies and partners across the resilience system.
SFRS emphasises that Scotland’s wildfire season has expanded significantly, with firefighters spending more than 100 days responding to over 230 wildfires in 2025, including major incidents at Dava Moor and Carrbridge . The service has already invested in new equipment, including four new wildfire support units in Alford, Oban, Galashiels and Dornoch, and two interim units in Lockerbie and Thurso, alongside expanded controlled‑burn training for crews.
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour welcomed the plan, noting that wildfires
“continue to pose an increasing threat to Scotland’s rural communities and natural environment”
and stressing the importance of responsible outdoor behaviour, as even a small spark can escalate rapidly in dry conditions .
Ms Brown said:
“Last year’s wildfires were a warning that we must be prepared for this to be a more regular occurrence as a result of climate change.
The plan also highlights the vital role of land managers, gamekeepers, farmers, foresters and crofters, who frequently work alongside SFRS during major incidents. It acknowledges the need to harness their skills and local knowledge, particularly as changes in muirburn regulation and climate conditions alter fuel loads across the landscape .
Key actions within the Strategic Action Plan include:
- Strengthening public awareness campaigns and wildfire danger assessments
- Enhancing local and regional Incident Response Plans
- Developing a multi‑agency Concept of Operations to ensure consistent national coordination
- Reviewing and expanding the Community Asset Register
- Exploring a mountain‑rescue‑style volunteer model for trained wildfire responders
- Continuing investment in specialist wildfire vehicles, equipment and training
The Scottish Government emphasises that the plan marks the beginning of an evolving programme of work that will continue to develop ahead of the 2026 wildfire season and beyond. It reinforces the shared responsibility of government, public bodies, land managers, communities and individuals in reducing wildfire risk and protecting Scotland’s natural environment for future generations.
The full Strategic Action Plan for Wildfires is available here: Wildfires: strategic action plan – gov.scot
