03/07/2026
We’re aware of a rather large smoke plume affecting areas near Salisbury Plain which is likely to continue and be visible overnight.
We are liaising with SPTA and will send an emergency response if/when appropriate.
Despite our best efforts, fire is always a risk on the Defence Training Estate during hot and dry weather, as has been seen already this summer with the current fire on the Impact Area.
We monitor wildfire risk levels and take action to minimise these - and any impact on the local community - as much as possible. We have to carefully balance this with the need for crucial military training to continue.
We use a range of measures to prevent and control range fires, including grazing programmes agreed with local farmers to keep the grass short during the summer months, ammunition bans during extremely dry conditions, and fire watch schemes to ensure fires are constantly monitored.
Please support this critical military training by helping to prevent wildfires this summer. If you’re visiting SPTA, don’t light fires or use BBQs and dispose of ci******es and litter responsibly. If you see a fire, please don’t try to tackle it yourself but call 999 immediately.
Always remember, only access the training area when and where it is safe to do so and stay on the permitted routes. Find out more www.gov.uk/guidance/safe-access
