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15
Aug
Harrogate and Knaresborough fire stations help tackle major moorland fire
Harrogate and Knaresborough fire stations have been called to help tackle a major fire at a North Yorkshire moorland.
Seven North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to a fire at Langdale Moor, near RAF Fylingdales towards Goathland, on Monday (August 12).
Firefighters are continuing to tackle the blaze, which has since been declared a major incident. It is expected it to continue burning for a number of days.
Harrogate Fire Station, which deployed a high-volume pump to help fight the flames, has cancelled an open day on Sunday.
It said on social media:
The ongoing major incident at Langdale Moor is putting a lot of strain on the fire service resources, including Harrogate who are currently there helping fight the fire and will be over the weekend. We have tried to leave this decision as late as possible to see if we could still hold the event, but it is not possible.
Knaresborough’s on-call firefighters have also been drafted in.
The fire station said county fire services were stretched and urged people to follow advice to prevent rural fires:
NEVER:
Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows - they could start a fire and ruin the surrounding countryside.
Never leave bottles or glass in woodlands. Sunlight shining through glass can start a fire. Take them home or put them in a waste or recycling bin.
Never attempt to tackle fires that can't be put out with a bucket of water - leave the area as soon as possible and call the fire service.
Never have BBQs on grass or moorland.
ALWAYS:
Always report a fire immediately when you see it, ring 999 and ask for the fire service.
Always make sure cigarettes and other smoking materials are extinguished properly.”
Smoke billowing at the scene on Monday.
A week-long battle
When firefighters arrived on Monday, the fire measured 300 metre x 300 metre across the moorland.
After jumping a fire break, the flames spread to 1 km x 1 km of moorland and trees.
The fire reduced in sized overnight, but the fire service then said it was covering around five-square-kilometres of land by midday on August 13.
Twenty pumps were at the scene by that point.
The following day, the fire service said 11 appliances were at the scene, alongside eight argocats – an all-terrain vehicle.
Crews at the scene this week. The fire service expects firefighters to remain there for some days.
The incident has occurred at an old army range, the fire service said, but firefighters are aware of munitions in the area.
“We have precautions in place for our crews at the scene, but people may hear explosions. Explosive Ordinance Disposal were at the scene”, the fire service added.
Firefighters were operating on the perimeter of the fire yesterday (August 14), with the help of a helicopter dropping water.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s overnight incident log said crews remained at the scene of the blaze last night, but the operation had been scaled down to six pumps.
In its latest update this morning (August 15), the fire service shared some harrowing photos of smoke billowing from the moorland yesterday.
A helicopter is dropping water to tackle the flames.
Five fire engines remain at the scene.
It added:
We're still at the scene of the fire on Langdale Moor and will be for some time. There may be a lot of smoke in the area. Our advice remains to avoid the area and to keep doors and windows closed.
Thank you again for the donations we received yesterday and the continuing offers. We've had our own welfare arrangements in place throughout the incident and don't need any additional items at this time. We really do appreciate all the offers and support that you're giving to our teams who have been working tirelessly.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established.
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