Establishing an Easter Ross & Sutherland Wildfire Response Unit

Community organisations and stakeholder meeting exploring the establishment of the local Highland Wildfire Response unit.

Community Invitation

Wildfire and Community Resilience in Easter-Ross & Sutherland

Wildfire risk across the Highlands is increasing. Longer dry periods, land use pressures, policy change and limited SFRS capacity mean that communities, land managers and public agencies are facing a shared challenge.

We would like to explore a practical, community-led response so are inviting community organisations and stakeholders to attend a meeting focused on the "art of the possible" in establishing the Easter-Ross & Sutherland unit of Highland Wildfire Response. One of two Pilot units in the Highlands.

This meeting is designed to listen, share, and test whether there is sufficient local appetite and funds to build a coordinated, trained and insured community wildfire capability that complements the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Community and Stakeholder Meeting

A prompt start at 5:30pm – 7:00pm

This facilitated session is aimed at community leaders, community companies, funders and rural stakeholders.

The session will:

• Present the concept of Highland Wildfire Response - explaining what it is and is not.
• Outline governance, training, insurance and operating principles
• Explore funding, partnership and community ownership models
• This is an exploratory meeting, to discuss the art of the possible to fund this unit.

Why Attend?

Wildfires cannot be fought by any single organisation. If an Easter-Ross & Sutherland is to exist, it must be shaped by those of us who live, work and manage land here and in turn supported fully by our communities.

Your insight, challenge and perspective are essential to making this a success.

Please book asap.

FYI

In the spirit of bringing the community along on the journey with us we'll also be hosting an open Drop-In Session before the meeting for the public 2:30pm – 5:00pm open to anyone at all including owners/managers of forestry, estates, farms, crofts and at risk infrastructure from across the Great Glen and surrounding areas.

This will be advertised on our social media and requires no booking.