Councils could be handed the power to fine those breaching fire by-laws, under a new proposal which aims to prevent scenes like last year’s devastating Dava wildfire from being repeated. Fire damage across the Dava Moor following the wildfires over the weekend. In the summer of 2025, the Dava Moor wildfire became the largest recorded in UK history, burning approximately 10,000 hectares in just four days. “The Dava Moor fire was a watershed moment for the Highlands,” Ms Roddick said. “We cannot simply wait for the next disaster; we must give our local councils the teeth they need to enforce safety rules before a spark is even lit.