Bailey said upland communities still see the effects of last year’s fired “on a daily basis.”
These include farmers and graziers being unable to return sheep to parts of Fylingdales Moor, and “visible scars” left by the fire itself and the firebreaks built to stop it.
He said everyone should “think carefully about their actions” when enjoying the countryside.
“A moment’s carelessness can have consequences that last for generations, but a few simple precautions can help prevent another devastating wildfire from happening in the first place.”
Lizzie Bushby, from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said they were proud to support the campaign after witnessing the “devastation” caused on the North York Moors in 2025.
“Moorland habitat is becoming more vulnerable as our climate changes. Once it burns, we lose essential habitats, wildlife and peatland that has taken hundreds of years to form.”
York and North Yorkshire’s elected Labour mayor David Skaith, and his deputy, Jo Coles, who oversees the fire service, have both warned that wildfires can no longer be seen as “rare or exceptional.”
They have called on supermarkets across the region to stop selling disposable barbecues and are calling for national legislation to ban them.
“The response from firefighters, farmers, landowners, volunteers and local communities was outstanding, but we cannot rely on goodwill alone. As the risk of wildfires grows, so too must our preparedness,” Coles said.
