Thank you to Calderdale Moorland Group for sharing these photos and the accompanying words below. You can find their Facebook page here.
Originally posted on 13th February 2025
A moor in Calderdale recently hosted West Yorkshire Fire Service for wildfire training. Gamekeepers spoke with them regarding the heightened risk of wildfire and shared with them their knowledge and expertise on this subject. Unfortunately weather conditions were not great and although small controlled fires were lit, the firefighters didn’t get much practice this time.
Working closely with the fire service, many moors invite them when weather conditions permit and controlled heather burning can take place. Moorland gamekeepers are often the first to respond to wildfire outbreaks due to living and working in remote areas of the countryside.
With the specialist equipment provided by our upland estates and on the ground, first hand knowledge of how fires react on upland habitats, they are a vital part of protecting our moorlands from the devastating impacts to wildlife and fragile habitats.
Working alongside the fire service at these incidents is part of the role of moorland keepers.
It was great to be able to get together with the local fire service to talk about wildfire prevention and future working practices.