Facing the flames: why preparedness can’t wait

The wildfire season is no longer confined to a few hot weeks in July. It’s a year-round challenge requiring continuous readiness. Wildfires increasingly threaten areas where homes and businesses border open countryside. These rural-urban interfaces present distinct challenges: rapid fire spread, limited responder access, and elevated risks to life and property; peat fires can smoulder for days, straining resources and complicating recovery efforts.

Recent National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) figures underscore the real extent of the problem; by mid-June 2025, fire and rescue services in England and Wales had responded to over 560 wildfire incidents; a staggering 717% increase on the previous year.

Despite this increased threat, fire and rescue services continue to tackle wildfires without dedicated funding or national coordination. Other public sector organisations and voluntary groups with resilience responsibilities face similar pressures; tight budgets, resource gaps, and rising demand. The imperative is clear: to work smarter, think more strategically, and collaborate more effectively.

As NFCC Chair Phil Garrigan warns, “Wildfires are no longer rare or isolated incidents; they are a growing national risk that require a national-level response”. Addressing this challenge calls for a culture of shared learning, strengthened cross-sector collaboration, integrated planning, interoperable systems, and a collective commitment to doing things differently.

We should not think of resilience as a static checklist. It is a dynamic, adaptive process rooted in foresight, flexibility, and inclusive leadership. Wildfires highlight the need for joined up thinking across emergency services, local authorities, environmental agencies, and communities. Effective response depends not just on operational capacity, but on strong relationships and shared understanding.

Central to this transformation is the development of future-ready professionals who can lead with confidence in uncertain environments. Education plays a pivotal role here, not just in delivering knowledge, but in cultivating the mindset and competencies needed for strategic resilience. From climate-driven hazards to geopolitical instability, today’s challenges demand more than technical know-how. As Phil Garrigan highlights in the context of wildfire response, tackling such complex risks requires strategic insight, cross-sector collaboration, and a deep understanding of how resilience must be embedded across systems and communities.

The Buckinghamshire New University Resilience and Emergency Professional programme is designed to meet the evolving demands of national risk management in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.

Rooted in practice-based learning, the curriculum places real-world application at its core. Students are immersed in dynamic scenarios, such as wildfire preparedness and response where they explore how to anticipate emerging threats, coordinate effectively across agencies, and apply resilience principles in both operational and strategic contexts. These scenarios reflect the realities faced by professionals on the ground, enabling learners to develop confidence and competence in high-pressure environments.

Through this experiential approach, students move beyond theory to engage with the practical challenges of emergency planning, response, and recovery. They learn to navigate uncertainty, make informed decisions under pressure, and adapt strategies to suit diverse organisational settings. Whether analysing cascading risks, evaluating interoperability, or designing recovery plans, learners are encouraged to think critically and act decisively.

Drawing on insights from public and private sector engagement, the programme exposes students to a wide range of perspectives and expertise. Guest lectures, workshops, and applied assignments introduce current debates and innovations, from digital technologies to the ethical dimensions of crisis leadership. These interactions foster a rich learning environment where students challenge assumptions, share experiences, and build networks that extend beyond the classroom.

Importantly, the programme fosters a leadership approach rooted in strategic insight and cross-sector cooperation. It also encourages learners to reflect on their own professional contexts, engage with stakeholders, and contribute to building resilient organisations and communities. By the end of the programme, graduates are not only prepared to respond to emergencies, but they are also ready to lead change, influence policy, and drive continuous improvement in the resilience landscape.

Whether working in civil protection, health and social care, local government, or the voluntary sector, our learners emerge with the tools, insights, and confidence to make a meaningful impact.

Read our article about wildfire numbers surging past 500 this year, and listen to our discussion with Phil Garrigan on our For Every Response podcast.