Wildfire management

Wildfire prevention and mitigation is an important part of our work in protecting the National Park, ensuring that the people who live here are protected from harm, and that the spectacular landscapes, and the wildlife that depends on them, are taken care of for future generations. 

There are many strands of this work, all of which rely on close collaboration with landowners and partners across the National Park, and public engagement. Significantly in 2025, after extensive public consultation and stakeholder input, the Park Authority submitted wording to Scottish Ministers for a seasonal fire byelaw in the National Park. 

Fire byelaw 

In 2024 the Park Authority consulted on the potential introduction of a fire byelaw. Over 1,600 people took part, with 79% supporting the introduction of a byelaw, 16% against and 5% unsure. The Park Authority did not express a preference during this consultation, but the results gave the Park Authority a mandate for change. You can read a summary of the consultation results here. 

Drawing on feedback from the general public, landowners and partners, the Park Authority board agreed on 28 June 2024 to develop a seasonal fire management byelaw, which would last from 1 April to 30 September each year. This decision was based on feedback from the consultation, which suggested that the approach should be easy to communicate, not perceived as heavy-handed and cover the period with the greatest risk. 

You can read the fire byelaw here. 

Risk reduction, visitor engagement and communications 

A significant part of our work to prevent wildfires is delivered through our ranger service who patrol the National Park daily, engaging with people and providing helpful information and resources on responsible access. During the 2024 season alone they engaged with 6829 people and dealt with and removed 783 fire sites.  

In addition to direct delivery, the Park Authority funds partner ranger services in the National Park, putting boots on the ground to be able to make a difference in communities across the Cairngorms. In the past few years, we've funded additional police patrols in high-risk areas, ensuring a swift response to fire setting and other anti-social behaviours.  

Collaboration on this issue is key, which is why we've coordinated communications on the issues with the Scottish Government, VisitScotland and other local and National Partners, developing an alerts system for social media to disseminate further information to the public in times of fire risk. We host fortnightly Managing for Visitors meetings throughout the summer season to respond to emerging trends or issues and meet monthly in winter to coordinate planning for the season ahead with our partner agencies and landowners.

• Engaging on fire risks Hector Bryden

  

  
• Fire risk signage Louise Took

  

  
• Rangers tackling fire damage Cairngorms National Park Authority

  

  

Planning and preparedness  

Our work in this area is not limited to prevention, and our land management team are working closely with landowners, managers and workers across the Cairngorms to develop an integrated fire management plan.  

Future projections indicate that the National Park will experience further warming over the coming decades, resulting in an increasing number of dry days and number of consecutive dry days, during summer months.  

The Integrated Wildfire Management Plan – the first of its kind in the UK – aims to provide support and guidance for land managers in the National Park to reduce the risk of fires, be better prepared to tackle wildfires and to make the landscape more resilient. Containing a number of recommendations and actions, the plan will be submitted to the Park Authority Board for approval in 2025. 

In addition to the plan our Climate Adaptation Fund has awarded money for fire-fighting equipment and training on land in the Cairngorms, providing the practical tools and skills necessary to respond to the increasing risk of wildfires in the National Park.