Military Drills Fuel UK Wildfires: Unexploded Ordnance Threatens Firefighting Efforts
(UK Wildfires: Explosives on Training Sites Hamper Firefighting)

Hundreds of wildfires ignited by military drills across the UK countryside are being exacerbated by the presence of live explosives on army training sites, hindering firefighting efforts. This situation poses a significant risk to public safety and the environment, with the Ministry of Defence acknowledging that some fires on these grounds cannot be actively fought due to the inherent dangers. [A1]

## Breakdown — In-Depth Analysis

The core issue stems from the inherent danger of attempting to extinguish fires on land actively used for live-fire military exercises. UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) training areas, such as Salisbury Plain and Bovington Camp, are frequently sites for live ordnance testing and troop maneuvers. When these activities coincide with dry conditions, stray sparks from training rounds, vehicle exhaust, or pyrotechnics can easily ignite dry vegetation, leading to wildfires. [A2]

The critical problem arises when these fires spread beyond the immediate training zones or escalate in intensity. Fire and rescue services, bound by safety protocols, are often unable to enter designated live firing ranges or areas where unexploded ordnance (UXO) is suspected. This limitation means that fires originating from or spreading within these zones cannot be directly tackled using conventional firefighting methods, allowing them to burn unchecked until they either extinguish themselves or move to safer ground. [A3]

**Mechanism of Fire Ignition and Containment Failure:**

1. **Ignition Sources:** Heat from engines, muzzle flashes, tracer rounds, pyrotechnics, and friction from tracked vehicles during exercises.
2. **Fuel Load:** Dry grass, heather, and scrub prevalent in many training areas.
3. **Environmental Conditions:** High temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds, common in UK summers.
4. **Containment Breach:** Fire spreads from initial ignition points on training land.
5. **Access Restriction:** Firefighting crews cannot access areas with confirmed or suspected UXO, creating a critical containment gap.
6. **Uncontrolled Spread:** Fires burn into adjacent civilian land or protected natural areas without direct intervention on the training grounds.

The MoD’s policy is to suspend live firing exercises when wildfire risks are high. However, even with these precautions, residual risks remain. The specific challenge is that even after an exercise, the ground may still contain UXO, rendering it unsafe for emergency responders. A report from the National Audit Office in 2022 highlighted that the MoD has a backlog of de-mining approximately 16,000 hectares of land across the UK, with the exact areas and associated risks not always publicly disclosed. [A4]

**Data Snapshot: Wildfire Incidents in Military Areas (Estimated)**

While specific public data linking all wildfires directly to military drills and subsequent firefighting limitations is scarce, anecdotal evidence and reports from fire services in areas with large military footprints (e.g., Dorset, Wiltshire, Suffolk) indicate recurring incidents during dry periods. For example, during the summer of 2022, multiple large wildfires occurred in areas adjacent to or within military training lands, with firefighters often reporting being unable to fully extinguish the source of the blaze due to safety concerns. [A5]

## Why It Matters

This situation directly translates to increased risk and cost. Uncontrolled wildfires originating from military sites can rapidly spread to adjacent communities, nature reserves, and agricultural land, causing millions of pounds in property damage, agricultural loss, and ecological destruction. For instance, the economic cost of a single hectare of moorland lost to wildfire can extend to hundreds or thousands of pounds in habitat restoration and lost ecosystem services over decades. [A6] Furthermore, the inability to extinguish fires at their source means longer burn times and larger areas affected, placing greater strain on already stretched fire and rescue services and increasing the risk to firefighter safety when they eventually can access the affected zones.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros**
* **Military Training Essential:** Live firing is crucial for national defence readiness, ensuring military personnel are adequately trained. So what? This capability is a national security imperative.
* **Precautionary Suspensions:** The MoD does suspend firing during extreme fire risk, mitigating some immediate dangers. So what? This proactive step reduces the frequency of ignitions.
* **Designated Training Zones:** Military land is often remote, limiting immediate public exposure to some training-related fires. So what? This offers a buffer against widespread civilian casualties.

**Cons**
* **UXO Risk:** Live explosives and unexploded ordnance create an impassable barrier for firefighters. Mitigation: Enhanced, real-time mapping of known UXO zones and clear communication protocols between MoD and civilian fire services.
* **Delayed Response:** Fires within or originating from training areas may burn longer before they can be safely tackled. Mitigation: Establish pre-agreed emergency access routes and rapid de-confliction procedures with the MoD.
* **Environmental Impact:** Uncontrolled burns can devastate sensitive habitats and wildlife on and around training grounds. Mitigation: Implement robust post-exercise land management and post-fire ecological recovery plans, including proactive vegetation management in high-risk zones.
* **Resource Strain:** Civilian fire services are diverted to monitor and manage fires they cannot directly fight, consuming resources. Mitigation: Increase MoD-funded support for civilian fire services operating in proximity to training areas, including specialized equipment for accessing hazardous terrain.

## Key Takeaways

* **Assess UXO Risk Zones:** Proactively identify and communicate known unexploded ordnance areas to civilian emergency responders.
* **Establish Joint Protocols:** Develop and regularly practice clear, rapid communication and access protocols between the MoD and local fire authorities for wildfire incidents.
* **Invest in Remote Sensing:** Utilize drone technology and satellite imagery for early fire detection and monitoring in military training areas.
* **Enhance Firebreaks:** Create and maintain effective firebreaks around and within military training zones during drier periods.
* **Prioritize Vegetation Management:** Implement targeted vegetation clearance in high-risk areas adjacent to firing points.
* **Advocate for De-mining:** Support and advocate for accelerated de-mining efforts within MoD training areas to reduce long-term risks.

## What to Expect (Next 30–90 Days)

**Base Scenario:** Expect continued, albeit less frequent, fire ignitions during any remaining dry spells in late summer/early autumn. The primary challenge will remain the containment of fires within or originating from MoD land due to UXO. Fire services will continue to monitor and suppress fires on the periphery where safe.

**Trigger for Worse Scenario:** A prolonged period of unseasonably warm and dry weather combined with active, large-scale live-fire exercises would significantly increase the likelihood of multiple, large, and difficult-to-contain wildfires.

**Action Plan (Next 30 Days):**

* **Week 1-2:** Review and update internal risk assessments for areas bordering known MoD training ranges. Confirm existing communication channels and points of contact with local MoD base commands.
* **Week 3-4:** Liaise with MoD to request updated information on areas currently designated as high-risk for UXO or scheduled for live firing exercises. Propose a joint tabletop exercise to test incident response protocols.

## FAQs

**Q1: Why can’t firefighters simply enter military training sites to put out fires?**
Firefighters cannot enter military training sites with live explosives or suspected unexploded ordnance (UXO) due to the extreme risk to their lives. Ordnance can detonate unexpectedly, making conventional firefighting extremely dangerous, if not impossible, in these zones.

**Q2: How often do military drills cause wildfires in the UK?**
While specific, consolidated data is not publicly available, incidents are reported periodically, particularly during dry summer months. The risk is highest during periods of low rainfall and high temperatures when military training activities are ongoing.

**Q3: What happens if a wildfire starts on a military training ground?**
If a wildfire ignites on a military training ground, the immediate response is complicated by UXO. Civilian fire services can only intervene on the periphery where it is deemed safe. The MoD is responsible for managing fires within their sites, but their ability to actively fight fires in areas with UXO is also severely restricted.

**Q4: Is the Ministry of Defence taking action to prevent these fires?**
Yes, the MoD suspends live firing exercises during periods of extreme fire risk. They also conduct land management to reduce fuel loads. However, the presence of historical UXO remains a persistent challenge for active firefighting.

**Q5: What is the long-term solution to military-drill-related wildfires?**
Long-term solutions involve continued efforts to de-mine military training areas to remove the UXO hazard. Additionally, improved land management, enhanced early warning systems, and robust, pre-established joint response protocols between the MoD and civilian emergency services are crucial.

## Annotations

[A1] Based on statements from the Ministry of Defence regarding operations on training lands and wildfire risks.
[A2] Common ignition sources derived from analyses of military training activities and fire science.
[A3] Safety protocols for emergency services operating in hazardous ordnance environments, as outlined by ordnance disposal experts and fire safety bodies.
[A4] Information on MoD land de-mining backlogs is publicly available through reports by the UK National Audit Office (NAO).
[A5] Reports from UK fire and rescue services in counties with significant military presence, such as Dorset and Wiltshire, often cite proximity to military land as a factor in wildfire incidents.
[A6] Ecological and economic impact figures for moorland fires are derived from environmental agency reports and land management cost analyses.

## Sources

* National Audit Office. (2022). *Defence Estate Management*. Available on the NAO website.
* UK Ministry of Defence. (Various years). Safety briefings and operational guidance related to training areas. (Specific documents not directly linkable but referenced in general MoD safety policy).
* The Fire Service College. (Ongoing). Training materials and incident command structures for hazardous environments.
* Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). (Various reports). Habitat management and wildfire impacts on UK biodiversity.
* Met Office. (Ongoing). Fire severity indices and weather warnings.
* Local Fire and Rescue Service Incident Reports (e.g., Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service) – public incident logs and press releases.