Police set out cross-agency response as fire incidents climb
North Yorkshire’s Chief Constable has called for a concerted effort across police, the fire service and local authorities to reduce arson and accidental blazes, warning that incidents typically increase during the warmer months. The message comes one year on from the Langdale wildfire, which highlighted how quickly rural landscapes can be damaged when conditions are dry.
Chief Constable Tim Forber said the county’s response to fires cannot rest with one emergency service alone. He confirmed that North Yorkshire Police is working to a joint plan with partners to identify deliberate ignition, prevent harm and build an accurate picture of activity across the region.
“We know at this time of year that we do see an increase in this sort of thing and some of it is deliberate offending, some of it is about discarded barbecues, people not disposing of litter properly, you know, you leave a glass bottle in a rural area where there is tinder box vegetation that can cause a fire quite easily. In terms of do we work closer with the fire service, absolutely we do. We offer a program now where we make sure that any instance of fire that they attend where there's a suggestion it's deliberate ignition or there's a suspicion of that that is reported to us by the fire service we can get an accurate picture of what's going on.”
Joint plan focuses on prevention and rapid intelligence-sharing
Police say the approach includes targeted patrols in risk locations and education work with young people to deter offending and unsafe behaviour. A key strand is closer information-sharing: when the fire service encounters an incident that appears to have been started deliberately, it is flagged to police so investigators can assess patterns and deploy resources where they are most needed.
Alongside this, a reinstated fire safety intervention programme is being used to engage those at risk of causing harm, aiming to reduce repeat incidents before they occur. This sits within a broader multi-agency problem-solving framework with local partners, reflecting that prevention, enforcement and community outreach must happen simultaneously.
| Initiative | Detail |
|---|---|
| Joint problem-solving plan | Police, fire service and councils coordinate prevention and enforcement |
| Targeted patrols | Visible presence in areas identified as higher risk |
| Youth education | Engagement to deter arson and promote safe behaviour |
| Fire-to-police referrals | Suspected deliberate fires reported for investigation and analysis |
| Intervention programme | Reinstated scheme focused on early prevention |
Seasonal risks: from litter to barbecues
The force reports that fire incidents at this time of year are driven by a mix of deliberate offending and carelessness. Everyday items left behind in dry countryside—such as glass bottles, disposable barbecues and other litter—can be enough to start a blaze when vegetation is parched. The Chief Constable’s warning follows a period of warmer, drier conditions in parts of North Yorkshire that can quickly turn fields, heath and woodland into high-risk environments.
The police message underlines that while firefighters carry the frontline response, effective prevention relies on shared efforts between services and the public. Residents and visitors are being urged to show caution, especially in rural settings, and to consider the potential consequences of discarded items.
What this means for communities in North Yorkshire
- Stronger prevention focus: Expect more visible patrols and education sessions in places identified as at risk.
- Faster identification of arson: Fire crews will flag suspected deliberate ignition to police, improving the countywide picture.
- Community responsibility: Authorities are asking people to avoid behaviours that heighten fire risk, particularly during dry spells.
One year after the Langdale incident, the tone from the force is pragmatic: reducing fires requires sustained, joined-up work across agencies and communities. With schools breaking up and visitor numbers growing at this time of year, the emphasis is on preventing avoidable incidents and ensuring that deliberate acts are detected swiftly.
North Yorkshire Police says the multi-agency plan is designed to adapt as intelligence develops, with partners reviewing patterns and concentrating resources where they will have the greatest impact.
