Following the major fire on Langdale Moor this summer, Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume is calling on the government to consider its response to future fires when "critical infrastructure" is threatened.
A major incident was declared in August when the blaze, which at its peak covered almost 25 square kilometres, broke out near the ballistic missile early warning base at RAF Fylingdales.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. RAF Fylingdales, located near Pickering, provides a continuous ballistic missile early warning service for both the UK and US Governments. The site employs around 320 service personnel, Ministry of Defence Police, and civilian staff.
Local MP, Alison Hume, has stated her intention to question the government about whether a national resilience response should be activated when a critical military facility is at risk.
The MP said:
"Having gone up to the site on day nine and seen how close the fire got to RAF Fylingdales, I'm going to be asking the government whether national resilience should be triggered when a critical military facility is within scope of the fire.
I saw myself the line that the firefighters fought to keep the fire from jumping the track and getting onto the Fylingdales land where the weather was waist high.
So that's my own opinion and I want to say that for the record. That's something I'm doing in government".
In addition to reviewing the national response, Alison Hume is also examining what financial support should be available for local farmers who assisted in tackling the blaze. The MP acknowledged the crucial role farmers played and is exploring reimbursement for their fuel costs.
Ms Hume commented:
"The firefighters will be the first to acknowledge that they couldn't have done what they did without the farmers.
I've already met with the NFU president and farmers in Scarborough, I'm also going to be meeting with NFU Whitby and farmers to thank them and also to ask about what support they need.
There's an argument for reimbursement for fuel for them.
There's been a local GoFundMe page opened raised about £75,000 and that's absolutely amazing, but what can the emergency funding that was granted by the government do for farmers?".
Ben Illsley, Area Manager for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, has described the operation to protect the RAF base.
"On the 13th of August, that's where we declared a major incident.
On that day, the wind was blowing in the direction of RAF Fylingdales, the road that separates the moorland from RAF Fylingdales land, in most places, it is a kind of hardcore track.
It was absolutely imperative for us as an organization to protect RAF Fylingdales by protecting that fire break.
Where we had the fire it has burnt right up to that firebreak in places and it was very challenging conditions for our firefighters.
All along that line for a full kilometre track, we had firefighters from Cleveland, Humberside, and resources from West Yorkshire as well as our own do incredible job stopping that fire break becoming compromised.
And to this day, that fire break has stood. So, we've protected RAF Fylingdales due to the incredible actions of our firefighters on that day".
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