As the risk of severe wildfires continues to grow, Scotland relies on the skill, courage and dedication of firefighters, emergency services, land managers and volunteers working in extremely challenging conditions.

The Cairngorms wildfire highlights not only the devastating impact these incidents can have, but also the remarkable willingness of people across Scotland to help. Across social media and local communities, one question was asked repeatedly:

“How can I help?”

Scotland already has many organisations that offer valuable volunteering opportunities and make an enormous contribution to wildfire resilience. Regional initiatives, such as Highland Wildfire Response, are also helping develop specialist wildfire capability. However, there is currently no clear national framework or pathway through which members of the public can express an interest in supporting Scotland’s wildfire resilience, understand where their skills may be most valuable and be connected safely with appropriate opportunities across Scotland.

The Scottish Government has identified wildfire resilience as a priority, and its Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires recognises the potential value of developing a trained wildfire volunteer capability.

The public willingness to help is already there.

This petition aims to help bring that willingness together, demonstrating the public interest, skills and commitment that already exist across Scotland while supporting the continued development of a safe, coordinated approach.

Whatever terminology is used, fire does not wait. When it spreads across Scotland’s landscapes, threatens communities and damages irreplaceable habitats, we need the ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover effectively.

 

The Opportunity

The Scottish Government’s Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires recognises the potential value of a mountain rescue-style approach to trained wildfire volunteers.

Recent wildfires have demonstrated both the urgency of this challenge and the willingness of people across Scotland to contribute.

The Cairngorms wildfire also provides an opportunity to explore how this approach could work in practice. As Scotland considers developing a trained wildfire volunteer capability, the recovery phase following this incident could provide valuable learning about how communities, public bodies and partner organisations can work together safely and effectively during future wildfire seasons.

Recovery begins once wildfire sites are safe.

A coordinated volunteer network could help bring people together to support habitat restoration, ecological recovery, community recovery and other practical resilience activities while laying the foundations for even stronger wildfire resilience in the years ahead.

Without a clear framework, public goodwill risks becoming disconnected and difficult to coordinate.

Scotland has an opportunity to begin bringing that willingness together while supporting the continued development of an official national volunteer capability.

 

The Proposal

We are asking the Scottish Government, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and relevant partner organisations to continue developing an official Scottish Wildfire Volunteer Network, beginning with a national Expression of Interest Register.

This register would provide a simple way for people across Scotland to express an interest in contributing to wildfire resilience through an official, coordinated programme as it develops.

The Network should complement, not replace, the vital work already undertaken by professional firefighters, emergency services, land managers, conservation organisations, existing volunteer groups and local communities.

Professionals lead operations. Communities support.

The Network should strengthen and connect existing capability wherever possible, recognising the expertise, experience and partnerships that already exist across Scotland.

Rather than creating a separate volunteer organisation, the Scottish Wildfire Volunteer Network would provide a clear, coordinated pathway through which members of the public could:

• express an interest in helping;
• identify relevant skills and experience;
• be signposted towards existing volunteering opportunities where appropriate;
• access appropriate training through participating organisations where suitable;
• contribute safely alongside existing organisations;
• and support existing and future wildfire resilience initiatives developed by the appropriate organisations.

Depending on local needs, training and the organisations involved, volunteers could contribute to existing initiatives across the four stages of wildfire resilience.

Prevention

Supporting existing wildfire awareness, public education, responsible access messaging, community engagement and activities that help reduce wildfire risk before incidents occur.

Preparedness

Helping strengthen existing local resilience through training, community preparedness activities, skills development and projects that improve Scotland’s readiness for future wildfire seasons.

Response Support

Appropriately trained volunteers would not replace firefighters or undertake frontline firefighting activities. However, where requested by the relevant authorities, they could provide non-operational support such as community assistance, welfare support, logistics, communications, environmental information gathering or other specialist skills.

Recovery

Once areas are declared safe, volunteers could support existing recovery initiatives through habitat restoration, peatland recovery, native woodland restoration, biodiversity monitoring, wildlife recovery projects and wider community recovery activities.

The detailed structure, governance, training and operational roles of the Network should be developed by the Scottish Government and its partners, drawing on the expertise of emergency services, land managers, conservation organisations, existing volunteer networks and emerging regional initiatives.

 

A Local Approach

Scotland’s landscapes and communities are diverse, and wildfire resilience should reflect that.

The Scottish Wildfire Volunteer Network could include locally organised groups, allowing volunteers to build knowledge, relationships and experience within the landscapes and communities they know best while operating within a nationally coordinated framework.

Local knowledge is one of Scotland’s greatest assets. Communities who understand their landscapes are an essential part of building resilience.

This approach would strengthen existing local partnerships rather than replace them.

 

A Call for Action

The Scottish Government’s Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires recognises the importance of prevention, preparedness, response and partnership working.

This petition asks the Scottish Government and its partners to continue developing that work by creating a national Expression of Interest Register as the first step towards a coordinated Scottish Wildfire Volunteer Network.

If you support this proposal, please sign this petition.

If you would personally consider volunteering through an official, appropriately trained and coordinated wildfire resilience programme, please comment:

“I would volunteer.”

If you wish, you may also include your region along with any relevant skills, experience or interests, such as conservation, ecology, forestry, farming, outdoor leadership, first aid, logistics, mapping/GIS, communications or community support.

These comments are not an official volunteer register.

They are intended to demonstrate the level of public support, the willingness of people across Scotland to contribute, and the breadth of skills already available while an official register is considered.

Scotland’s landscapes are part of our natural heritage and a responsibility we all hold for future generations.

The willingness to help is already there.

By bringing that willingness together now, Scotland can help strengthen a more connected and resilient approach to protecting our landscapes, wildlife and communities.