Date published: 7 August 2026
Communities across Wychavon are being urged to prepare for the growing risk of wildfires following two significant blazes in the district in as many days.
Flames swept through a field near Harvington on Sunday, 2 August, destroying a large area of countryside and coming dangerously close to nearby homes. This was followed by a large fire involving hedgerows at a farmyard off Evesham Road in Radford, between Inkberrow and Rous Lench, a day later.
Wychavon is urging parish and town councils across the district to put Community Emergency Plans in place, or review existing ones, to ensure they include the growing threat from wildfires. The plans help communities prepare for emergencies by identifying local risks, key contacts, vulnerable residents and community resources that can be used to help respond to emergencies.
Traditionally, they have been used to prepare for flooding, but with climate change bringing hotter, drier summers, wildfires are expected to become an increasingly common sight across the UK.
Wychavon's We Are Wychavon Plan includes a commitment to help parish and town councils prepare for future emergencies. Support is available through the council's emergency planning team, with more information and contact details available at www.wychavon.gov.uk/emergency-planning.
Pictured: Overhead drone shot of the flames near Harvington
Wychavon is also supporting the Government’s Prepare campaign, which provides support to individuals about what they can do to get ready for flooding, fires, power cuts and other emergencies. Information is available at https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/
Residents and visitors are being urged to play their part in helping reduce the risk of wildfires by following the Countryside Code. This includes not lighting open fires in the countryside, only using barbecues in designated areas, never leaving them unattended and ensuring they are fully out and the contents are cold before they are disposed of.
Cigarettes and other smoking materials should be properly extinguished and disposed of in a bin, never thrown from a vehicle. Not only is this illegal and could result in a fine, but it can also start large fires that destroy fields and crops. People should dispose of litter in a public bin or take it home, particularly glass bottles and jars, which can spark fires if sunlight shines through them.
Cllr Craig Reeves, who represents Harvington and Norton on Wychavon, said: "Watching the fire spread so quickly and come so close to people's homes was a sobering reminder of how vulnerable our communities can be during prolonged periods of hot, dry weather.
"I'm pleased Wychavon is supporting parish and town councils to prepare their emergency plans because being prepared can make all the difference when every minute counts."
Cllr Rob Adams, Wychavon's Executive Board Member for Community Safety, said: "Recent wildfires are a stark reminder they are no longer something we watch on television while they happen elsewhere. As climate change brings hotter, drier summers, the risk to our communities is becoming increasingly real.
"I'd urge parish and town councils to take up Wychavon's offer of support and make sure they're prepared for wildfires, as well as other emergencies. Residents and visitors can also play their part by ensuring they are prepared and taking simple precautions when enjoying the countryside to help prevent fires from starting in the first place."