Margaret Mullane MP calls for a wildfire threat information campaign

Following discussions with the local authority and LFB Borough Commander to seek their advice and action to urge private landowners to cut fire breaks, Margaret has voiced her concern of threat of wildfires and called for an information campaign for landowners and the public to mitigate risks to the Fire Minister .

Our constituency of Dagenham and Rainham experienced devastating wildfires in summer 2022 that destroyed over 30 homes at two locations. Earlier this summer there was another wildfire in Dagenham on fields which was brought under control by the London Fire Brigade. That there was no spread of the fire to nearby homes was in large part due to the fact that a fire break had been created around the perimeter of the land.

Margaret recognises that there can be no compulsion for private landowners or farmers to create fire breaks to reduce the risk of the spread of fires, but the promotion of a public information campaign should encourage this to become good custom and practice. This could also be combined with messaging for the general public in relation to responsible behaviour such as not dropping

cigarettes or lighting barbecues in dry conditions and ensuring they are fully extinguished and disposed of safely.