London, August 30(HS): Live-fire military training exercises across UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) sites have sparked over 385 wildfires since 2023, severely complicating firefighting efforts due to unexploded wartime ordnance and posing serious health and environmental risks. Data obtained by the BBC reveals that out of 439 wildfires on MoD land since January 2023, an overwhelming majority originated directly from current army manoeuvres.

The Ministry of Defence maintains a robust wildfire policy, restricting live ammunition use during high-risk periods, yet local residents and environmental advocates demand stricter measures, including bans on live-fire exercises during the driest months. Wildfires raging in Range Danger Areas often must be left to burn because fire crews are barred from entering these impact zones due to explosive hazards.

A large moorland peat fire in North Yorkshire this month exemplifies these challenges, with unexploded World War II-era bombs causing dangerous explosions that hinder containment efforts and generate massive pollution clouds. Locals, including asthma sufferers, have expressed alarm over the smoke's health implications and the extensive damage to wildlife and landscapes, likening affected areas to scorched savannahs.

The MoD counters that it actively monitors wildfire risks, employs firebreaks, and uses grazing to control vegetation, while emergency teams respond promptly to unexploded ordnance findings. Recently launched Respect the Range public awareness campaigns aim to caution visitors about the dangers of accessing military lands.

As climate-driven dry conditions persist, the complex intersection of active military training and legacy wartime hazards continues to amplify wildfire frequency and severity across UK training grounds.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar