Harrogate fire station holds open day tomorrow

Families will get the chance to meet Harrogate firefighters and sit in fire engines tomorrow.

Harrogate fire station is holding an open day at its site on Skipton Road.

The station, which will be open from 11am until 4.30pm, will host activities, stalls and demonstrations.

Two fire engines and the aerial ladder platform will be on display.

Firefighters will give safety advice and take part in two rescue demonstrations using the ladder platform.

Police will also be present.

There will be tea and cakes and a bouncy castle, as well as a maze for children.


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Harrogate firefighters rescue dogs from hot car

Harrogate firefighters rescued two dogs yesterday when they got stuck in a car on one of the hottest days of the year.

The car self-locked when the owner went into the boot and was unable to get back into the vehicle shortly after 11am.

With the temperature rising, and the dogs still in the back of the car, the owner summoned help.

The fire crew was called to the incident at Harlow Carr Gardens, Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Fore and Rescue Service’s incident log says:

“Crews cooled the vehicle with one hose reel jet, then released the dogs using a glass punch and gave water to them.”


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Hotspots cause second fire in days at old rectory near Ripon

Firefighters were called to the old rectory at West Tanfield yesterday for the second time in three days.

The building, next to the parish church of St Nicholas, suffered major damage when the roof caught fire on Tuesday.

But fire crews from Ripon, Bedale and Harrogate were summoned back to the site, near Ripon, at 8.50am yesterday when smoke was seen.

Firefighters discovered the smoke was coming from the roof space above a first floor bedroom.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log says:

“This was believed to be caused by hotspots from the previous fire.

“Crews used one hose reel jet to cool the beams and set up an aerial ladder platform to carry out observation from above and check for further hotspots.”


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Crane catches fire on Harrogate’s Leeds Road

A crane caught fire on the busy Leeds Road in Harrogate this afternoon.

Two crews from Harrogate fire station were summoned to deal with the incident at 3.54pm.

Fortunately the fire was already out by the time they arrived thanks to the crane driver using an extinguisher.

The fire station said in a social media post:

“An extinguisher had been used prior to arrival and crews used a hose reel to cool the overheated wheel bearings.”


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A fire station spokesperson said the incident occurred at the Stone Crop Lane junction on Leeds Road.

Police directed traffic but the road remained open.

At 15:54 on Leeds Road, Harrogate, two crews from Harrogate attended a report of a crane on fire, an extinguisher had been used prior to arrival and crews used a hose reel to cool the overheated wheel bearings pic.twitter.com/f0rne18T8Z

— Harrogate Fire station (@Harrogate_NYFRS) May 16, 2022

 

Car flips on roof after swerving to avoid deer on A1 in Harrogate district

A car flipped on to its roof when it swerved to avoid a deer on the A1 near Boroughbridge in the early hours of the morning.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, the vehicle left the road and one person was stuck inside.

Its incident log says firefighters used “stabilisation and extrication gear” to free the trapped person.

Harrogate fire station said this morning that one female was out of the vehicle when firefighters arrived and another female was trapped inside. Both are believed to be unharmed after the second female was freed.

The incident, which occurred at about 2.30am, was one of two serious traffic accidents logged in the Harrogate district last night.

At 9.40pm, Ripon firefighters were called when a car collided with a house on Kingston Avenue in the city.

The incident log says:

“No people were trapped, one male occupant of car was treated for a minor ankle injury by paramedics.

“Crews assisted ambulance and police at the scene and gave advice.”


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Two cars deliberately set alight in Knaresborough

Firefighters were called last night to deal with two vehicles that had been deliberately set alight in Knaresborough.

A fire crew from the town was summoned to Maundy Grove at 10.22pm.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log, they used two hose reel jets and breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze.

No further details are available.

In a separate incident last night, firefighters were alerted to reports of a fire in woodland on Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.

The incident log, which says the call was received at 5.53pm, adds:

“This turned out to be a camp fire well supervised. Fire service not required.”


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Two people cut from vehicles in Knaresborough this morning

Two people had to be cut from their vehicles in Knaresborough this morning following separate crashes.

Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were initially called to a two-vehicle collision at the junction of the B6164 and A658 at 8.34am.

On arrival, all occupants from one vehicle were out of their car but a woman was unable to leave the other vehicle because of neck injuries.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutting gear to free the woman, who was taken to hospital.

Another image from the incident on Thistle Hill. Photograph: @NorthYorkshireFire, Twitter


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Harrogate and Knaresborough crews were called out again at 9.44am when a single vehicle collided with a bollard on Thistle Hill.

The elderly male driver suffered neck, back and knee injuries and was unable to get out of the vehicle.

Firefighters again cut the roof of the vehicle to release the man, who was taken to hospital.

Neither person taken to hospital is believed to have suffered serious injuries.

Famous North Yorkshire pub ‘reduced to ashes’ in overnight blaze

A North Yorkshire pub famous for its food and setting in a historic thatched inn has been “reduced to ashes” in a fire which took hold overnight.

The owners of the Star Inn at Harome, which will be well-known to food lovers in the Harrogate district, called the fire service at around 10pm last night.

Firefighters battled the blaze overnight with nine fire engines on scene at its peak. As of 7am this morning, crews were still working to extinguish the fire.

In a dramatic video posted by the pub’s owners on social media just after 4am the thatched roof can be seen ablaze with smoke billowing out into the night sky. They said:

“It’s been a long night so far…I’m afraid we won’t be open for a while as we are reduced to ashes with The Star on fire and still burning, residents please call after 9 am.”


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https://twitter.com/TheStaratHarome/status/1463723386534862849

The Star Inn is famous for its food, having held a Michelin star for much of chef Andrew Pern’s tenure who has been at the pub for 25 years.

Fire crews from Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside and Pickering along with the aerial ladder platform from Huntington have attended the fire.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said at 7am:

“At it’s peak the incident had nine appliances, one aerial ladder platform, one water bowser, one welfare unit and an incident command unit in attendance.

“Crews worked with main jets and hose reel jets to contain the fire and the aerial ladder platform was deployed to removed thatch from the roof.

“The incident is still ongoing and crews are still working to extinguish the fire.”

Firefighters rescue sheep from swollen River Ure in Ripon

Firefighters rescued a flock of sheep which managed to get stranded in the middle of the swollen River Ure in Ripon.

A crew from the fire station in Ripon worked with water and animal rescue teams to save 12 sheep from the fast-flowing water yesterday. Heavy rain had caused river levels to rise, cutting off the sheep from land.

The firefighters got the call at around 9am and headed straight to the river.

They waded into the water and used their bodies to slow the current before shepherding the animals away from harm.

Tom Harrison, a firefighter who was part of the rescue effort, told the Stray Ferret:

“Once we had located the sheep we set up a team and made a safe passage for them to cross the river.

“We didn’t need to use any equipment, we just stood in the water and used our bodies to slow the flow of water.

“When we managed to get one to leave the island the rest soon followed.

“All of the sheep managed to get away so yes I would say it was a successful operation.”


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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue added:

“Initial assessment from an officer to reports of approximately 12 sheep stranded on an island in the river.

“After confirming Fire and Rescue could assist in the rescue of the sheep, various water and animal rescue teams were sent to assist.”

This latest animal rescue comes almost a year after a similar incident with cows in the River Ure during the floods in November 2020.

Coneythorpe pub reopens by thanking firefighters who saved it

The owners of a family-run pub in Coneythorpe, which reopened yesterday after 11 months, have thanked firefighters who saved the building.

Fire crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb spent six hours battling a blaze at the Tiger Inn, near Knaresborough, in November.

To mark the reopening 11 months on, Ian and Barbara Gill, who have owned the Tiger Inn for 15 years, presented a cheque for £5,000 to the men and women who saved the pub from total destruction.

The money will now go to the Fire Fighters Charity, which helps firefighters and their families cope with injury, illness and rehabilitation.


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Paul Metheringham, who was the incident commander on the night of the fire, said:

“This is a tremendously generous gesture by the Gills and we are very appreciative. The fire was massive and we were thankful that we were able to save the Tiger from being completely destroyed.

“We know what an important part of the local community the pub is and we are delighted it has now reopened. This cheque presentation makes the re-opening even more special.”

The Knaresborough crew released this picture today.

Mr Gill said:

“This was the least we could do. The local fire brigades from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb were absolutely brilliant, showing incredible courage and expertise. We have so much to thank them for.

“We are delighted to have reopened – and to welcome back our regulars after being closed for so long. During our closure, we have been so heartened and encouraged the support we have received from the local community, who have given us the strength to carry on and to ensure that The Tiger has re-opened in style.

“We were left devastated by the fire. It was accidental and we were grateful that no-one was hurt. As you can imagine, the last 18 months have been extremely challenging. We were already struggling with the serious effects of covid last year, when the huge fire struck.”

Ms Gill added:

“Had it not been for covid, someone would have been on the premises when the fire started. But, on the plus side, as the pub was empty, it meant there was no danger to life. Even so, the part the brave firefighters played in saving our pub was absolutely crucial. We will be forever grateful to them.”