Self-combusting linseed oil causes freak house fire in Bilton

Self-combusting linseed oil is believed to have caused a fire that spread to a Harrogate house and shed last night.

The fire shattered a kitchen window and melted a PVC frame during the freak incident at a home in Cecil Street, Bilton about 9.30pm.

The North Yorkshire Fire and Service incident log said:

“Two crews from Harrogate and an officer attended a fire to a shed that spread to a garden fence and caused damage to the rear of a property.

“The fire shattered a kitchen window and melted some of a PVC frame.

“The cause is believed to be some linseed oil that self combusted and melted a turps containers and then run down to the shed setting that alight.”

Linseed oil, which is extracted from flax seed, is a natural oil used as a preservative for wood as well as being an ingredient in paints and varnishes.

Firefighters used two hose reel jets and a thermal imaging camera to tackle the blaze.

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Late night petrol bomb attack on car in Harrogate

A petrol bomb was thrown through the window of a car on a drive in Harrogate last night.

Firefighters were called to the scene on Heather Way, Killinghall at about 10.40pm last night. Police, including specially trained crime scene investigators also attended.

Fortunately the bomb failed to detonate and smouldered away but still managed to destroy the driver’s seat.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service gave details of the attack in its overnight summary of activity. It said:

“A crew from Harrogate attended an incident where there was an attempt to set a car on fire on a driveway.

“The drivers window had been smashed and a plastic bottle containing petrol and a wick had been thrown in, this had smouldered away on the drivers seat but failed to set the whole car alight and then burnt itself out.

“The fire caused approximately 90% fire damage to the drivers seat. Crews used thermal imaging camera only. The police along with CSI also attended.

The Stray Ferret has approached North Yorkshire Police for further details of the incident.

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Tanker catches fire on A1 (M) near Boroughbridge

Four crews from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the A1 (M) near Boroughbridge this morning after a tanker caught fire.

Crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Tadcaster rushed to the incident at 01.32am this morning.

The brakes and tyres of the tanker, which was carrying sugar, had set on fire. The crews were able to detach the trailer from the cab, which luckily didn’t set alight.

A section of the A1 (M) near junction 47 and 48 was closed for 90 minutes.

In its incident summary, the fire service said:

“Crews used two breathing apparatus sets and two hose reel jets.”

Highways England said it was called at the same time to patrol the traffic.

All lanes were reopened by 2.57am. The last of the fire crews left the scene at 2.45am.

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Early morning blaze ruins house in Harrogate district

An unsupervised candle is believed to have caused a fire that badly damaged a house in Minskip in the early hours of this morning.

Firefighters from Boroughbridge, Knaresborough and Harrogate using and aerial ladder platform and breathing apparatus rushed to the scene just after 1am.

Nobody was injured but the fire, which started in a bedroom, left the home in Roecliffe Drive uninhabitable.

The first floor suffered 100% fire damage and there is smoke damage throughout the building.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said:

“Crews used six breathing apparatus sets, two hose reel jets, door enforcer, 9 metre ladder, thermal imaging camera and small tools.

“They also gained access to a neighbouring property to check for fire spread.”

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service told the Stray Ferret the adjoining semi-detached was not damaged and it was fortunate nobody was hurt.

Minskip is about a mile from Boroughbridge.

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Firefighters called after Harrogate BBQ sets alight petrol can

Firefighters were called to an address in Harrogate last night after a barbecue caused a petrol can to ignite.

Crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough were summoned to a home on Rosewood Crescent.

According to the incident summary, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 9.14pm and used one hose reel to extinguish the fire, which spread to the back door of the property

The blaze caused 5% heat damage to the door. Firefighters gave the homeowners advice.

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Later that night, a Harrogate crew attended another fire when an armchair was set alight in a home on Cold Bath Road.

The incident, at 1223am, was caused by a dropped cigarette. The resident had already extinguished the fire before the crew arrived.

The officers ventilated the property and gave advice.

Two hours later, two Ripon crews responded a to a fire that spread to nearby trees and bushes after a car was set alight.

The car, on St Wilfrids Crescent, is believed to have been deliberately torched.

The crews used a 45m jet, two dry powder extinguisher and a thermal imaging camera.

Harrogate firefighters help toddler with head stuck in toilet seat

Firefighters were called to help a toddler that got its head stuck in a toilet seat in Harrogate yesterday.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident at Allotment Gardens yesterday afternoon at 5pm.

According to the incident summary, the crew advised the child’s mother to use soap to lubricate the area.

She was then able to remove the seat.

No other information was available at the time of publication.

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Coneythorpe pub devastated by fire plans August reopening

A Coneythorpe pub devastated by fire a month before Christmas looks set to reopen in summer.

Fire crews battled for six hours to control the blaze at the Tiger Inn in November.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said the cause was believed to be accidental and broke out in the pub’s kitchen, which had only been fitted the previous January.

Neighbours said they were devastated by the fire and described the pub as a pillar of the community.

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Now, the owners of the Tiger Inn have said they are eyeing an August reopening and confirmed that repair works are underway.

Firefighters tackle the blaze at the Tiger Inn, Coneythorpe, back in November.

Firefighters tackle the blaze at the Tiger Inn, Coneythorpe, back in November.

A post on the Tiger Inn Facebook page said:

“The covid pandemic has been difficult for everyone and to have a serious fire on top of it was the icing on the cake so to speak.

“However we now have some excellent news for you all. We have finally got the go ahead from our insurance company and re-building works have started.

“Our anticipated re-opening will be early August when Team Tiger will be ready and waiting to welcome you all back in.

“We will try and keep you updated with progress as we go along but in the meantime stay safe.”

Ripon firefighters rescue cat chased up tree by dog

A fire crew from Ripon rescued a cat that got stuck up a tree yesterday after being chased by a dog.

An RSPCA officer requested help after being unable to coax the eight-month-old moggy down.

The animal got stuck up the 20-foot high tree, on Spring Bank Close in Ripon, shortly before midday.

RSPCA officers at first advised the cat’s owners to use strong smelling food to encourage it to come down.

But when this didn’t work they came to help in person.

The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service crew from Ripon used ladders and a machine-powered saw to retrieve the cat.

It was then returned to its owners unharmed.

It is the second time in recent weeks that firefighters have rescued a cat from a tree in Ripon.

Thanks to @NorthYorksFire Blue Watch for helping ARO Holgate rescue this #cat stuck up a tree in #Ripon, the cat had been chased up the tree by a dog. Thankfully he was unharmed & reunited with its grateful owner! @RSPCA_official 49 pic.twitter.com/mCNEn3XZTS

— RSPCA Frontline (@RSPCA_Frontline) April 5, 2021

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A spokesperson for the animal welfare charity said:

“We’re extremely pleased that this cat could be rescued and reunited with the owner.

“RSPCA officers are trained to use ladders, which they carry for rescues like this, however, in situations where they still are unable to reach the animals we may ask the fire service to help and they often use animal rescues as a vital training aid.

“The RSPCA can request the help of the fire and rescue service but it is entirely up to them whether or not to attend. Some crews use animal rescues for training but emergencies involving people will always take priority.”

Ripon home devastated by early morning fire

An overnight fire has devastated a home in Ripon.

Crews from Ripon, Harrogate and Boroughbridge were summoned to deal with the blaze, which occurred in Westgate at about 1.45am this morning.

Smoking has been identified as a possible cause.

The fire broke out in a first floor bedroom.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident summary said:

“The fire caused 100% fire damage to the bed and 60% fire damage to the bedroom, 100% smoke damage to the first floor and light smoke damage to ground floor.

“Crews used four breathing appartaus, one hose reel, small tools and positive pressure ventilation.

“The cause is unknown but may have been caused by smoking materials.”

Harrogate firefighters were also called to a fire in a children’s play park on Jenny Field Drive.

A bucket of water used to extinguish the fire, which occurred at about 6.15pm last night.

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Lucky Ripon cat Loki rescued from windy tree

Firefighters from Harrogate rescued a cat called Loki when he got stuck 20 metres up a windy tree in Ripon.

A member of the public alerted the RSPCA on Sunday when they noticed the eight-month-old grey cat struggling to keep his balance on the branches of the tree on Wayne Tarbard Close in Ripon.

Loki’s hind legs kept slipping off branches as they shook in the wind.

When an RSPCA officer was unable to tempt Loki down, extra help was required.

A fire crew from Harrogate rushed to the scene and used a 10.5 metre ladder to attempt the rescue.

But Loki kept climbing higher, and was soon out of reach from even the ladder.

Another crew from Harrogate was summoned, and with the help of an aerial ladder platform was able to bring the furry animal safely back to ground.

@NorthYorksFire attended a cat stuck up in a tree with Insp Little in Ripon. Unfortunately after multiple attempts using every trick in the book they had to call upon the Ariel ladder. Working together they managed to reach Loki and bring him down to safety. @RSPCA_official (64) pic.twitter.com/HvVyKvhUKJ

— RSPCA Frontline (@RSPCA_Frontline) February 21, 2021

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After being checked by the RSPCA officer, Loki was reunited with his worried owners.

RSPCA inspector Claire Little said cats were usually adept at finding their way down trees and could be coaxed with strong smelling food like fish. But Loki’s circumstances were different. Ms Little added:

“This poor cat had become well and truly stuck in the tree during quite windy weather.

“RSPCA officers are trained to use ladders, which they carry for rescues like this, however, in situations where we are still unable to reach the animals, we may ask the fire service to help and they often use animal rescues as a vital training aid.

“The fire service tried everything from ladders, reach and rescue poles and eventually they used the aerial platform to bring little Loki down to safety.”