Crews called to blaze at Coneythorpe pub

Fire crews from across North Yorkshire were called to a fire at a pub in Coneythorpe yesterday.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were called to the incident at the Tiger Inn at 5.04pm.

Crews from Knaresborough, Harrogate, Acomb and appliances from Wetherby and Moortown were called out to the fire.

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Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform, main jets, breathing apparatus and hose reels to tackle the fire.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue will investigate the cause today (November 14).

If you witnessed the fire please get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.couk

Fireworks season could be worst for animals in decades

Fireworks displays in the Harrogate district may have been cancelled this year but a local vet and the RSPCA have warned it could still be the worst period for pets in decades.

The absence of large organised events is expected to lead to an increase in backyard firework displays, bringing noise much closer to pets at home. 

Katy Bell, a vet at the Rae, Bean & Partners practice in Boroughbridge told the Stray Ferret: 

“A big display will be organised on a certain date, at a certain time, so pet owners can be prepared for that event.

“However, if home-organised events can be a lot more spread out over an evening, and have a bigger negative impact on the animal.” 

Ms Bell encourages worried pet owners to start preparing now: she advised playing firework training CDs to pets in the run-up to November 5, starting at a low volume and increasing as necessary. 

On Bonfire Night itself, Ms Bell recommends not leaving your pet alone, and ensuring it has somewhere safe and dark to hide.

A RSPCA spokesperson said this fireworks season could be the worst for animals in decades. 

The charity advised pet owners to close windows and curtains to muffle noise, and bring smaller pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs inside.

Around 62% of dogs and 54% of cats in the UK show signs of anxiety when they hear fireworks, according to the RSPCA. 

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Fire services’ advice

Station manager Tony Peel, from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said bonfire night was usually a quiet one for fire services in the county “and we’d love it to be the same this year”. He added:

“Please follow our safety tips if you are planning a display at home and help reduce the pressure not only on the fire service, but also on our colleagues in the ambulance service and police.

“Some people and animals are scared by firework noise so if you’re planning to let off fireworks please tell your neighbours and avoid buying really noisy ones.”

Mr Peel said anyone planning a home display should ensure it finishes before 11pm, always light the firework at arms length and only buy fireworks that carry the CE mark.

Six workers rescued from Ripon takeaway

Six workers have been rescued from a takeaway in Ripon after residents raised concerns about their living and working conditions.

Representatives from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, Harrogate Borough Council, the police, fire service and Immigration Enforcement, a division of the Home Office, swooped on the takeaway, which has not been named, on Wednesday last week.

The six people safeguarded during the visit have been placed in temporary accommodation.

Officers noted several possible indicators of labour abuse but could not find any signs of modern slavery offences, according to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority,

The council and the fire service will now investigate a number of housing and fire safety issues at the property.

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The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority works in partnership with other agencies to investigate labour exploitation.

Contact Crimestoppers anonymously if you suspect someone is being exploited for labour on 0800 555111.

Drop in number of deliberate fires across Harrogate district

The number of deliberate fires started across the Harrogate district has halved this summer compared to the same time last year.

Data from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has revealed there were 17 deliberate fires during June, July and August this year, down 50% from last year’s 35 recorded incidents.

However, the fire service has urged people to think about their actions, emphasising that the time spent dealing with a deliberate fire is taken from someone who may be in danger.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

“Over the last few months North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has attended a number of fires in the Harrogate district that are believed to have been started deliberately. While we are responding to these fires we are not available to respond to other emergencies.

“Starting fires is usually a criminal offence and can endanger lives. We’ve also been to a few campfires that have been left unattended or have spread. Please only light campfires in safe, designated areas and make sure they’re fully extinguished.”

Small woodland fire

Fires in woodlands and outdoor spaces are particularly dangerous. If left unattended or not extinguished properly, they can spread quickly.

The fire service believes some of the fires could have been started by young people. It has offered advice to parents to ensure that, as the summer holidays continue, children stay safe. It said:

Parents can get confidential advice by calling 0800 074 0064 or emailing safeguarding@northyorksfire.gov.uk.

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Heatwave prompts safety warnings for Harrogate district

Authorities in North Yorkshire have issued warnings to people hoping to take advantage of the hot weather and easing of lockdown restrictions this weekend.

With temperatures forecast to rise beyond 30 degrees centigrade, concerns have been raised about safety as residents enjoy the good weather for the first time since coronavirus guidelines changed.

Yorkshire Water is urging people to plan to ensure they are safe when visiting its sites across the Harrogate district. Alastair Harvey, lead countryside and woodland advisor at Yorkshire Water, said:

“The warm weather this weekend is the perfect opportunity for people to get out and enjoy some of Yorkshire’s scenic beauty spots, including reservoirs and woodland.

“It is important those enjoying the summer weather ensure they are doing so safely and that they are not having a negative impact on the environment.

“In the warm weather reservoirs can seem appealing for a quick swim, but they pose a huge risk which could lead to loss of life. They are often colder than rivers and this can result in cold water shock that can lead to hyperventilation, increased blood pressure and breathing difficulties and ultimately death, so it is important people visiting reservoirs are not tempted to swim.

Mr Harvey also warned about the dangers of wildfires during hot weather:

“We have seen in recent months the danger of barbecues on open land with a number of wildfires. These can cause a danger to life, as well as devastating local ecosystems by damaging peat soils and impacting valuable habitat and wildlife such as birds, reptiles and insects.

“We would encourage anyone visiting Yorkshire’s beauty spots to respect their surroundings and take measures to protect themselves and the environment by not lighting fires or barbecues, taking their litter home, respecting residents and local communities, parking considerately and following the Countryside Code at all times.”

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North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service echoed his comments about disposable barbecues, urging people to use them safely at home, away from sheds, trees and hedges. The fire service also asked people not to take barbecues out onto grassland or moors and to dispose of cigarettes and litter safely. A spokesman added:

“Open water may look like a tempting place to cool off, but it can be full of hidden dangers including vegetation and objects you can get tangled up in.”

 

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