Steering Group Meeting - Cumbria County Council

Steering Group Meeting - 22 July 2009 @1400-1600
Windermere Room, Skirsgill Depot, Penrith, Cumbria
Attendees:
Charles Ecroyd (Chair)
Ethan Bigelow (RDI)
Vicky Pearson (United Utilities)
Mark Eccles (Lake District National Park)
Andrew Clark (Landmarc)
Simon Boyd (Cumbria County Council)
Martin Glynn (RDI)
Duncan Taylor (CFRS)
Martin Holroyd (CFRS)
Apologies:
Jake Morley (Garrigil Estate/Moorland Association)
Stewart Palmer (National Trust)
Robert Benson (Lowther Estate / Moorland Association)
Ben Quarcoo (Forestry Commission)
Alasdair Brock (Natural England)
Geoff Fewkes (Cumbria County Council)
Roy Henderson (Mountain Rescue / National Trust)
Note: Can all members highlighted in the Action sections please ensure that they act on the information
contained. There are some very important actions within that need to be followed up to ensure the
continued success of the group.
RDI Staffing Update
Discussion Action
CE Ethan Bigelow to leave his post (and RDI) on 31 August 2009. CE
extends his thanks to EB for all his work for the CWG
RDI committed to delivering the project, currently seeking to
appoint a suitable replacement
Review of Prior Minutes (30April2009 Steering Group Meeting)
Discussion Action
EB forwarded the following actions to the next CWG meeting:
Roy Henderson to arrange meeting with DT & EB and
Ambleside and Langdale Mountain Rescue Team
RH to liaise w/Kirkby Steven Mountain Rescue Team re:
wildfire
RH to liaise with Kirkby Steven
MRT RE: wildfire
RH to arrange meeting with DT
& EB, and Ambleside and
Langdale MRT

Funding Update
Discussion Action
EB provided an update on current project income, expenditure, and
funding bids in-progress (For a breakdown of the current funding
situation, see attached CWG funding update presentation)
DT Natural England provided 35K to the Fire Operations Group
(FOG) in the South Pennines. FOG’s funding bid / angle should be
discovered
Steering Group seconded motion to follow-up by getting in contact
with FOG & other organizations involved in the South Pennines
Fire Plans
EB received about 15 fire plans
EB sent 6 fire plans to the CFRS to be loaded on their mobile data
system
EB to complete remaining fire plans by end of August
CE asked steering group to make a concerted effort to complete
their fire plans and forward to EB
CWG Promotional Flyer
EB 600 flyers have been distributed; CCC – 250, LDNPA – 150,
FC – 200, Moorland Association – 50, CLA (NFU) – 20,
United Utilities 50
EB approximately 250 flyers remain to be distributed
Public Awareness Campaign
EB The ‘High Wildfire Risk Press Release’ to be used at times of high
wildfire risk during the spring or summer, currently ready for release
as needed
DT high wildfire risk press release could be released off the back of a
major wildfire incident in Cumbria as well
EB asked who (amongst the CWG) should be responsible for
monitoring the FSI & weather conditions and alerting fire group
members when ‘high wildfire risk signage’ should be posted?
DT suggested the CWG project officer was best placed
Steering Group agreed with DT – Project Officer to perform this
function
ME Nick Thorne of the LDNPA monitors the FSI for the national
park, EB should get in contact with him re: FSI monitoring
EB said that the CWG informative press release had been taken up
by BBC News, follow this link to view the story
EB said BBC Radio Cumbria also picked up the story, and EB spoke
on the Mike Parr Breakfast show.
CE asked EB to circulate the CCC PR Officer’s version of the CWG
informative press release
EB asked the steering group what further public awareness activity
they would like to take forward
DT & EB circulated FOG’s and the Cumbria Forestry Commission
‘cigarette pouches’ being used to encourage countryside visitors to
dispose of their cigarettes responsibly
DT , MG, EB to research
successful Fire Operations Group
application to Natural England
EB to complete currently held
fire plans by end of August
ALL members of fire group to
provide EB with completed fire
plans as soon as possible
EB to monitor the FSI & weather
conditions in Cumbria and alert
fire group members when ‘high
wildfire risk signage’ should be
posted
EB to get in touch with Nick
Thorne (LDNPA) re: FSI
monitoring for high wildfire risk
sign guidance procedures
EB to circulate CCC PR officer’s
version of the CWG Press
Release
EB source quotes for a CWG
pop-up stand, poster, and
additional promotional flyers
EB to contact Alasdair Brock re:
NE facilitating a mail-out with
CWG promotional flyer and
cover letter
EB to make ‘CWG Forum’ an

DT would like to see FRS volunteers distributing public awareness
material to the public in targeted areas at times of high wildfire risk
ME LDNPA wardens could also distribute messages about high
wildfire risk, a CWG display stand could also be posted in the
LDNPA centre
DT has a generic ‘wildfire pop-up stand’ available for use by CWG
partners
VP suggested using poster-size CWG & wildfire promotional
material in visitors centres/key locations; poster would include a
description of the CWG and the risk of wildfire in Cumbria
DT how do we engage with farmers and land management
community?
ME CWG could use the agricultural commons
SB use Natural England’s contacts through the SSA; a postal mail-out,
facilitated by NE, including a flyer and cover-letter
Steering group suggested that EB source quotes for the following:
o CWG Pop-up banner
o CWG & Wildfire Risk Poster
o 500 – 1000 additional promotional flyers
CE suggested the ‘Cumbria Wildfire Group Forum’ agenda point be
forwarded to the next steering group meeting
EB tentative plan is to develop plan for the CWG Forum in October,
to be delivered in February or March 2010
MG South East England Wildfire Group has proposed conducting
research on what type of awareness activities capture the public’s
attention in respect of wildfire
Wildfire Fighting Training
EB stated that after the Basic Wildfire Fighting course on 6 Aug to be
run for the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, the CWG will have
trained 72 people in basic wildfire fighting. CWG business plan target
was 50 people trained. Additional CWG members have been trained
in wildfire fighting by the N’land Fire and Rescue Service through the
CFRS
EB the Advanced Wildfire Fighting course should begin to be
delivered in the second year of the project
EB asked if there was enough interest to run another Basic or
Advanced Wildfire Fighting training course for the CWG
ME the LDNPA will have more personnel to be trained in basic
wildfire fighting
DT the CFRS will be hosting an advanced wildfire training
course delivered by the NFRS – any interested parties should
contact DT
agenda point for next CWG
meeting
DT to provide additional
information regarding the NFRS
Advanced Wildfire Training
course to be put on in the future
All CWG members to contact
EB if interested in delivering
another wildfire training course
CWG Continuation Strategy
Discussion Action
EB the 2-year CWG project will end on May 31 2010. What is the
CWG’s continuation/exit strategy?
EB Some CWG activities were designed to have a lasting effect after
the initial input, and will not require any maintenance to remain
effective. Other ‘on-going’ activities will require a small amount of
annual maintenance to remain effective, including fire plans, high
wildfire risk signage and guidance notes, webpage, exercises, etc.
EB if the steering group feels that the CWG should remain an
EB to draft a brief evaluation of
CWG deliverable to date, and
draft a 3yr post-project
continuation plan; EB to circulate
this plan to CWG partners for
review

independent body post two-year project, with a 3 rd party project
officer, then RDI would dedicate a project officer to continue the
role that I currently carry out, but would not be willing to contribute
financially. Core funding from partners would be required to
maintain the group, but RDI would agree to contribute project
officer staff time to search and apply for other funding sources (eg
Leader).
EB as an example, the N’land Fire Group just completed its third
year (first year outside the initial two year project), and has secured
maintenance funding of 10K from the Northumberland Fire and
Rescue Service, whilst also pursuing funding from Lantra (for
training), Leader, and other environmental grant schemes.
CE confirmed that the steering group would like to see the CWG
maintained past the initial two-year project; CWG to remain an
independent body; RDI to provide a project officer to maintenance
activities
DT if 10-15K is the target sum, CFRS would be willing to cover a
portion of the total cost
ME suggested that EB draft a three year action plan, setting out clear
and measurable products; this could be put forward as a funding
proposal from CWG partners
SB agreed with ME and that it would make securing funding easier if
all CWG partners contributed
CE Ethan’s Swan Song to be putting together a brief evaluation of
CWG achievements to date, and a 3yr action plan for the
continuation of the CWG
Co-operative Controlled Burning
DT to push this work forward, hoping to participate in controlled
burning activities with private estates next spring
Members’ News
Discussion Action
DT 8 CFRS Landrovers (with fire fighting capabilities) should all
be in place by the end of August 2009
DT CFRS to host a wildfire exercise in Greysdale Forest.
Scenario to simulate the filling of portable water tanks in support
of helicopter operations involving a High Volume Pump, and
CFRS landrovers; RAF Bulmer may participate, NFRS to
participate as external examiners
DT CWG partners will be invited to attend
DT to provide additional
information about the CFRS
exercise as it becomes available
Date of Next Steering Group Meeting
Discussion Action
21 October 2009 @1400; Venue to be the Windermere Room,
Skirsgill Depot, Penrith, Cumbria
EB to circulate potential meeting
date using Doodle