Plan Your Visit
Barbecues, campfires and moorland fire safety
By Jon Cosson · Updated 18 October 2026
The National Park Authority's advice, the council order covering named coastal sites, and the fire service's instructions for reporting a wildfire.
The National Park Authority's advice
The Authority's Share with care guidance asks visitors not to light barbecues or campfires in the National Park, and to leave portable grills and stoves at home. It says wild camping is unlawful without the landowner's permission.
This is the Authority's advice. No byelaw banning barbecues across the moors was found in the sources checked for this page. The council order below applies to named sites, not the open moor.
If you see a moorland fire
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue's Be Moor Aware campaign says never to use disposable barbecues, campfires or naked flames on moorland or in rural areas.
- Report a fire immediately on 999 and ask for the Fire Service.
- Give your location. A what3words location helps emergency services find you.
- Leave the area and do not try to tackle the fire.
The council's 2026 order: named sites only
North Yorkshire Council's Unauthorised Camping and Lighting of Fires and Barbeques Public Spaces Protection Order 2026 was made on 15 May 2026 and came into force on 27 June 2026 for 3 years, unless extended, varied or discharged.
It restricts unauthorised overnight camping and lighting fires or barbecues within the areas defined in its schedule and maps. Express prior written permission from the landowner, North Yorkshire Council, is required. The fixed penalty is £100. Check the signed order and maps on the council page for the exact boundaries.
| Area | Named sites |
|---|---|
| Scarborough | Royal Albert Park; Castle Dyke; South Cliff, the Italian Gardens and Holbeck; Scalby Beck; Marvels and the Open Air Theatre; Peasholm Park; Museum Terrace, the Crescent and Valley Park |
| Whitby | Whitby Abbey area; Pannett Park |
This order does not cover the open moor.
The 2025 Langdale and Fylingdales Moor fire
The fire service's incident record gives the following dated sequence. These are historical facts, not a report of today's conditions.
| Date | Fire-service record |
|---|---|
| 11 August 2025 | Crews were called on the evening of 11 August 2025. |
| 13 August 2025 | The fire was declared a major incident. |
| 29 August 2025 | The fire service reported that the fire had been contained. |
| 23 September 2025 | The fire was downgraded from a major incident. |
| 22 December 2025 | The fire was closed as an active incident. |
In its 23 September 2025 recovery statement, North Yorkshire Council described it as the largest and most destructive moorland fire seen in North Yorkshire.
Where to find official live updates
- North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue: incident information and links to its official social media.
- North Yorkshire Council: road closures and travel information.
- National Park Authority wildfire page: wildfire guidance and path-closure information.
How we know this
- First-hand
- Not yet
- Information checked
- 18 October 2026
- Sources
- North York Moors National Park Authority; North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service; North Yorkshire Council, signed 2026 order and recovery statement
Sources checked 18 October 2026: National Park Authority Share with care and wildfire guidance, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Be Moor Aware and its Langdale incident record, and North Yorkshire Council's signed 2026 order and recovery statement, linked above.
Moorland fire safety questions
Can you have a barbecue on the North York Moors?
The National Park Authority asks visitors not to light barbecues or campfires in the National Park, and to leave portable grills and stoves at home. This is its advice; no byelaw banning barbecues across the moors was found in the sources checked.
Is there a fine for a barbecue on the moors?
North Yorkshire Council's 2026 order provides a £100 fixed penalty for offences at its named Scarborough and Whitby sites. It does not cover the open moor and is not a blanket moorland barbecue fine. The order requires the council's express prior written permission for fires or barbecues in its restricted areas.
What should I do if I see a moorland fire?
Call 999 immediately and ask for the Fire Service. Give your location; a what3words location can help. Leave the area and do not try to tackle the fire.
Where can I check for moorland fires today?
Check North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue's website and social media, North Yorkshire Council for road closures, and the National Park Authority for path closures and wildfire updates. This guide is not a live incident report.
Where to stay in the North York Moors
Self-catering cottages, village inns and farmhouse boltholes right across the moors, from the southern villages to the coast.
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