On 27 February 2026, the leader of North Yorkshire Council, Cllr Carl Les, issued a statement in York confirming that the county’s worst-ever wildfire was caused by cooking with a naked flame. The fire, which broke out in the North York Moors during the August Bank Holiday weekend in 2025, started because of a campfire or portable gas burner. This major incident was so large that the flames jumped across the B1416 road, and it required emergency teams to use one million litres of water every day to keep it under control.
During the blaze, the intense heat caused more than 20 old explosive devices to blow up after they had been buried underground for decades. These explosives were left behind from when Fylingdales Moor was used as a military training range, and their detonation made the situation much more dangerous for crews. The North Yorkshire Council reports that the fire is now considered the most devastating in the history of the county.
Cllr Les is now asking the government for over £3.5 million in financial aid to help the local area recover from the damage. The council is seeking £3.17 million to repair 50 kilometres of firebreaks that were dug to stop the flames and a further £400,000 to support local farmers, graziers, landowners, and businesses. These people suffered from costs they could not get back when the fire happened during the busiest part of the summer tourist season.
The council is also lobbying the government to create a new national funding system to help communities deal with extreme weather events like wildfires. They believe these incidents should be given the same financial protection as flooding, as the risk from dry weather and peat fires is growing. This new framework would help the North Yorkshire Council provide quicker support to residents and businesses if a similar disaster happens again.
Although many public paths have now reopened, visitors are being warned to stay strictly to marked routes because of the risk of more undiscovered explosives and ground erosion. Specialist teams, including the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, are now working to improve their skills in handling large wildfires. Meanwhile, the Major Incident Response Team is continuing to provide emotional and practical support to local people affected by the fire.
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