Within the Peak District there are two advisory panels tto advise on fire issues in the National Park.

The Peak District National Park Fire Advisory Panel (FAP) was established in June 1993 to set the criteria which would be used to implement closure of access land in times of moorland fires or extreme hazard. The panel is made up from representatives of both landowners and user groups. The objectives are:

• To monitor information from a variety of sources concerning fire risk and hazard rating.
• To assist in the implementation of previously agreed measures designed to reduce the fire risk.
• To assist in the development of action plans for use during periods of fire risk.
• To educate and inform the public of risk and potential effects of moorland fires.
• To encourage further research into causes of moorland fires.

A method using information provided by the Meteorological Office was developed by the group to forecast fire risk scientifically. MORECS data (which includes soil moisture deficiency and plant stress measurements) was compared with historical data to produce a correlation between MORECS data and incidents of fire. Threshold markers were determined which would trigger decisions on action to be taken and this tool, supplemented by the local knowledge of National Park Rangers, National Trust Wardens, gamekeepers etc, is used to determine moorland fire risk. The Peak District National Park Authority undertakes the closure of access land on the advice given by the panel, and any decision is taken very carefully, taking into consideration the wide-ranging interests in the Peak District moorlands.

In addition, following a spate of large protracted moorlands fires in 1996, a fire fighting resources group was formed to co-ordinate information on the location of personnel, water supplies, routes for access to moorland and the provision of fire fighting equipment. This group, known as the Fire Operations Group (FOG) is a non-statutory organisation and its primary aims is:

To protect from wildfire, the unique moorland heritage of the Peak District National Park.

FOG is made up of Fire Service Officers from the six constituent fire services serving the Peak District and those actively involved in fire-fighting such as gamekeepers, National Trust Wardens and National Park Rangers and the Pennine Helicopters Ltd (see below for the full list of members). The Fire Service is the responsible agency for moorland fire fighting, and during any such incident the senior fire officer present is wholly in charge, albeit assisted by other agencies. The operational success of FOG lies with its commonality of equipment and practise, close working relationships and adherence to pre-arranged Fire Plans.