Roddick fights for new powers to prevent “catastrophic” wildfires following Dava Moor tragedy

Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has lodged an amendment to the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, seeking to empower local councils to prevent the kind of devastating wildfires that ravaged Dava Moor last year.

The amendment, due for consideration at Stage 3 on Tuesday 27th January, would allow local authorities to operate fixed penalty notice schemes for the breach of by-laws designed to prevent wildfires. Ms Roddick has spearheaded this move following engagement with the Highland Council to find practical solutions for community safety.

The Highlands and Islands region remains on the frontline of the climate emergency.  In the summer of 2025, the Dava Moor wildfire became the largest in recorded UK history, burning approximately 10,000 hectares in just four days.  The blaze was so intense it burned deep into carbon-rich peat soil, releasing nearly 40,000 tonnes of carbon and threatening local homes and livelihoods.

Ms Roddick said:

“The Dava Moor fire was a watershed moment for the Highlands. It showed us exactly how high the stakes are when our environment is left vulnerable to irresponsible behaviour. We cannot simply wait for the next disaster; we must give our local councils the teeth they need to enforce safety rules now, before fire takes hold.

“By allowing the Highland Council to issue fixed penalty notices for by-law contraventions, we can provide a swift and flexible deterrent to keep nature, rural businesses, and people safe. I have pushed for this throughout the Bill’s progress because I know how much it matters to the communities I represent.”

The amendment is part of a broader push to modernise local authority powers under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill. Ms Roddick’s intervention ensures that national legislation directly addresses the unique risks faced by the Highlands and Islands, placing preventative power back into local hands.