Grassland fires: April 2017 to March 2018

Fires

• The Welsh Fire and Rescue Authorities attended 2,090 grassland, woodland and crop fires in 2017-18, an increase of 22% on 2016-17. The number of these fires is prone to fluctuation and the 2017-18 figure follows a period of instability. The 2017-18 figure is the second lowest in the time series (from 2001-02).
• In 2017-18, primary grassland, woodland and crop fires fell slightly whilst the number of secondary grassland, woodland and crop fires rose by 23%; there were 68 primary fires (71 in 2016-17) and 2,022 secondary fires (1,645 in 2016-17). 
• In 2017-18, over three quarters of fires on grassland, woodland and crops were started deliberately.
• In April 2017 the number of grassland, woodland and crop fires doubled compared with April 2016 and accounted for 38% of the grassland fires in the year. Met Office weather data shows April 2017 saw around 70% less rainfall but also around 8% fewer hours of sunshine, compared with April 2016.
• Of the grassland, woodland and crop fires in 2017-18, more than half (52%) were in South Wales; a further 31% were in Mid and West Wales and 17% were in North Wales.

Casualties

• There were 5 non-fatal casualties but no fatal casualties from grassland, woodland and crop fires in Wales in 2017-18. The last fatality resulting from a grassland fire occurred in 2007-08.

Damage

• In 2017-18, more than half of grassland, woodland and crop fires damaged an area less than 20 square metres. Almost a fifth damaged an area of more than 200 square metres.

Note

Grassland fire data are published in a supplementary report to the Fire and Rescue Incident Statistics produced in August 2018.