DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has launched Northern Ireland's first Wildfires Strategic Framework, a plan running until 2030 designed to significantly reduce the threat of countryside wildfires.

The framework, launched on Thursday, 9 October 2025, is structured around five core objectives: prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and enforcement. It sets out 35 key areas of development intended to enhance the region's overall capability to tackle the increasing issue of wildfires, which are often caused by human error or are deliberately started.

Minister Muir described the launch as a "turning point" in the collective approach to the problem. He confirmed the framework will lead to the development of a detailed Wildfire Action Plan over the next year.

"The framework is an important step towards making our communities more resilient to wildfires, making them aware of the danger’s wildfires pose to health, and providing them with tools to adapt to and mitigate wildfire risks through prevention, preparedness and vigilance," Mr Muir said.

The strategy received backing from other Executive Ministers, underlining the cross-departmental importance of the issue. Justice Minister Naomi Long highlighted that the threat is "only likely to grow as a result of climate change and changing weather patterns." She stressed the need for all relevant departments to play their part, particularly regarding the enforcement elements.

PSNI Superintendent Chris Hamill confirmed that deliberately starting a wildfire is a criminal offence and that cases of malicious fire-starting will be "fully investigated" and the culprits prosecuted.

NIFRS Assistant Chief Fire & Rescue Officer Marcus Wright welcomed the collaborative approach, noting that the increasing number and scale of wildfires "adds significant physical demands on Firefighters and resources, and places strain on our Service."

Mr Muir also stressed that the framework's implementation will support other key environmental strategies, including those relating to climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and peatland restoration. He drew attention to the vulnerability of upland habitats, which provide crucial services such as flood alleviation and clean water, noting that the need for a resilient environment "emphasises the importance of the Peatland Strategy which I launched last month".