Firefighters are attempting to put out crop fires in fields close to Ripon this afternoon.
The fires are in fields alongside the A61 around Hutton Bank and billowing smoke can be seen for miles around the area.
Today has been the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures of 29 degrees recorded in the Harrogate district.
North Yorkshire Police has advised motorists to avoid the area. A spokesperson said:
“We’re asking motorists to avoid the area and find other routes for their journeys while our Fire Service colleagues work at the scene. Thank you for your patience and understanding”
You can watch a video of the fire that was posted by North Yorkshire Weather Updates below:
UPDATE 6pm: Harrogate Fire Station has said the fire is now out.
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Fire crews called to garage blaze in Lofthouse
Fire crews were called to a fire at a garage in Lofthouse late last night.
Fire fighters from Masham, Summerbridge and Lofthouse were summoned to the village at 11.51pm.
The fire was estimated to have damaged 50% of the garage and its contents.
The owner of the property extinguished the blaze before North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue arrived.
The service added in an incident log:
“Crews carried out an inspection using a thermal imaging camera and gave advice to the owner.
“The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.”
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Harrogate firefighters issue smoke alarm warning after house fire
Harrogate fire station has urged people to ensure they have working smoke alarms after attending a fire this morning.
Fire ripped through the roof of a bungalow but fortunately nobody was hurt because the alarm sounded.
The incident took place at 2am in York and the aerial ladder from Harrogate was required to help firefighters from York and Huntington tackle the flames.
An investigation is underway.
Harrogate fire station said the blaze, at a time when most people are sleeping, served as a warning to everyone to check their smoke alarms.
It said in a Facebook post:
“In the early hours of today, we were at a house fire. Luckily the occupants had working smoke alarms and got out safely.
“Please make sure yours work if you have them and if not you can contact you local fire station to see about getting some fitted.”
Smoke alarms are free. You can book for them to be installed here.
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Fire destroys BMW on A1 near Boroughbridge
A BMW was destroyed by fire on the A1 near Boroughbridge last night.
Firefighters from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge were called to the blaze at 9.16pm last night.
They used two hose reels and two breathing apparatus to douse the flames.
It is not believed anyone was injured but in a tweet last night North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said:
“Vehicle totally destroyed. Two hose reels and two breathing apparatus used. Believed to be due to an electrical fault.”
Plumes of smoke rising above the carriageway. Photograph: @NorthYorksFire, Twitter
It was one of two car fires in the district last night.
A crew from Boroughbridge was called when a Skoda Fabia caught fire in Minskip shortly before 8pm.
The cause is again believed to be a faulty engine.
The Skoda engine suffered fire, heat and smoke damage.
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Fire warning to farmers after dung heap spontaneously combusts
Harrogate fire station has urged farmers to check the temperature of baled hay and straw after a fire this week.
Knaresborough and Harrogate firefighters used breathing apparatus to tackle a blaze affecting dung heaps and about 70 hay bales at Thorpe Underwood on Wednesday.
There was also a large amount of straw used for bedding in the pile that caught fire.
Harrogate fire station said in a social media post that its thermal imaging camera identified hot spots at over 500 degrees. It added:
“Piles of straw like this can spontaneously combust. They self-ignite because of heat produced by bacterial fermentation. Once ignition temperature is reached, combustion occurs.”
The thermal imaging camera picks up the hotspots. Pic: Harrogate fire station
Hay spontaneously combusting is a common cause of summer barn fires. They usually occur just after the hay or straw has been baled.
Firefighters urged farmers to monitor the temperature of their hay and straw by using temperature meters, especially after collecting it from fields, and then taking steps to cool it if necessary.
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Two teenagers arrested after six deliberate bin fires in Harrogate
Two teenagers have been arrested following six deliberate bin fires in Harrogate town centre last night.
Fire crews were called to multiple blazes involving commercial bins behind retail units, which tied up the service for two hours.
Both fire engines attended — something that won’t be possible if proposed cuts to overnight services go ahead.
Crews were called at 8.17pm last night to reports of a fire on Cambridge Street in the town centre.
Firefighters said the blaze was started deliberately by youths.
The fire was put out using hose reel jets and crews left the incident with North Yorkshire Police.
A statement from Harrogate fire station on its Facebook page said:
“Both Harrogate fire appliances were tied up for two hours last night in Harrogate.
“Crews dealt with six separate large commercial bin fires at the back of retail premises which potentially could have spread to buildings.
“Police were notified and multiple arrests took place. These unnecessary fires tie up our resources taking us away from us other incidents.”
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Zoe Metcalfe, is currently considering plans to reduce the number of appliances at Harrogate Fire Station to one at night.
This morning, North Yorkshire Police confirmed two boys, aged 17 and 14, were arrested on suspicion of arson. They have since been released under investigation.
A statement from the force added:
“Police are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and quote reference number 12220090536.”
Harrogate firefighters have dealt with a spate of bin fires in Harrogate town centre this week.
On Wednesday, they responded to reports of a bin fire on Bower Street under the railway track at 8.11pm. The cause is unknown.
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Crews responded to deliberate blazes on both Cambridge Street and Oxford Street on Monday evening.
The fire on Oxford Street was started in a bin close to commercial buildings.
A spokesman for Harrogate fire station said they believed the fires were deliberately started by the same people and have informed the police.
Fire ravages former dairy in Harrogate districtA log burning stove is believed to have caused a fire at a former dairy building in the Harrogate district.
Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were called to the building at North Rigton at 4.45pm yesterday.
Harrogate fire station said in a social media post last night:
“Crews extinguished the fire using breathing apparatus, hose reel jets, thermal imaging camera, Harrogate’s aerial ladder platform and Tadcaster’s Water Bowser.
“Fire was believed to be caused by a log burning stove.”
More pictures from the scene taken by Harrogate firefighters
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- Dog trying to eat sausages causes Harrogate house fire
A Harrogate kitchen caught fire yesterday when a dog jumped up to grab some sausages and set a tea towel alight.
Harrogate firefighters were called to Meadow Place in Starbeck shortly before 4pm following reports of fire.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log says:
“The fire started when the dog of the house attempted to jump up on a kitchen bench to snaffle some sausages and knocked a tea towel onto onto a hob that had just been turned off.”
The incident log adds that the smouldering tea towel caused smoke damage to the kitchen but it is not believed any people — or dogs — were injured in the blaze.
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Multiple vehicle crash on A1 at Allerton Park
Emergency services were called out shortly after midnight last night to reports of a car crash on the A1 in the Harrogate district.
Two people needed treatment from ambulance crews at the scene following the incident, which happened on the northbound carriageway at junction 47.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log says firefighters from Knaresborough and Harrogate attended a “multi-vehicle road traffic collision”. It adds:
“On arrival crews found that no persons were trapped. Two walking wounded casualties with minor injuries were left in the care of police and ambulance crews.
“Crews made the scene safe and carried out a thorough search of the embankment for further casualties. Incident left in the hands of police.”
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Chip pan fire decimates Harrogate home
A Harrogate home was severely damaged when an unattended chip pan caught fire last night.
Firefighters used a door breaker tool to get into the home, which is in the Coppice area, at about 6.20pm.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log does not say whether anyone was hurt.
Harrogate and Knaresborough firefighters responded to the call. The incident log says:
“This was a fire to a chip pan that had been left unattended.
“This caused 70% smoke damage throughout the property.
“Crews used a door breaker to enter the property and extinguished the fire using a hose reel jet and a 45mm hose.”
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