Freedom of Information Request - Cost of Tackling Wildfires
Date: 14 November 2025
Our ref: SIR182124/A5563993
Information Request – Cost of Tackling Wildfires
Your Request
‘Please can I request the following information:
(1) The total spent by NatureScot in helping to tackle wildfires in Scotland in 2025.
(2) What the costs noted in (1) covered.
(3) The total spend by NatureScot in helping tackle wildfires in the last five years (if possible, can you please split this data up by year).’
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is in the Table below.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| (1) The total spent by NatureScot in helping to tackle wildfires in Scotland in 2025 | Total spend is estimated at £20,996 |
| (2) What the costs noted in (1) covered | a) purchase and maintenance of equipment such as fire fogging units, leaf blowers, and Argo ATV Units b) site visits/meetings to discuss impact of fires c) staff costs tackling fires and maintaining National Nature Reserve (NNR) fire plans d) fire training and awareness for staff |
| (3) The total spend by NatureScot in helping tackle wildfires in the last five years | Total spend per year is estimated to be: - 2025 - £20,996 - 2024 - £17,101 - 2023 - £23,999 - 2022 - £76,684* - 2021- £8,604 |
* £70k was for Argo ATV Units, which are used for other NNR activities, as well as those related to tackling wildfires. It is not possible to separate out exacts costs
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
