Firefighters from Knaresborough were called to a hot tub that went up in flames near Knaresborough today.
Flames from the wood-fired hot tub, which didn’t have anyone in it, spread to the surrounding canopy on Arkendale Road in Ferrensby.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report said:
“This was extinguished prior to the arrival of the fire service using five small fire extinguishers, buckets of water and garden hose pipes.
“Crews assisted the owners with damping down the area. The hot tub and canopy were 100% destroyed by fire. The cause of this was a jammed motor.”
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Woman treated for shock after crash near Ripon
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has been in action twice in our area today, once for a road traffic accident and once to rescue an injured women.
At just after 8am, crews from Ripon and Harrogate were called to a two-car road collision on Studley Road in Ripon.
One car had driven into the back of the other, and one of the drivers, who were both women aged about 20, was treated by fire crew for shock before an ambulance arrived at the scene.
Later in the day, at 2.46pm, police asked Harrogate fire crew to gain entry to a locked premises on Stanhope Drive, off Knaresborough Road in Harrogate, as they had concerns for the occupant.
Firefighters broke into the building using a lock-extractor and found that the occupant had fallen and suffered a broken arm.
The fire crew administered oxygen therapy and left the unnamed 64-year-old woman in the care of the police, awaiting an ambulance.
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Overheating ice machine caused fire in village pub near Knaresborough
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has said a fire at a village pub near Knaresborough this morning was caused by an overheating ice machine.
The Tiger Inn at Coneythorpe looks set to be closed for several weeks after suffering what was its second fire in three years.
Firefighters were summoned at 5.45am this morning.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said in a statement:
“A number of crews attended and found a fire which had started in the kitchen and spread to the bar, toilets and a cloak room.
“Crews used breathing apparatus, four hose reel jets, positive pressure ventilation fans and thermal imaging cameras.
“Everyone was out of the property on the arrival of crews, one person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but did not require hospital treatment. The cause of the fire is believed to be an overheating ice machine.”
In a Facebook post, the Tiger Inn said that, while most of the pub building was fine, the kitchen was “not quite as fortunate”.
It added:
“We cannot thank the fire service and paramedics enough for their swift response and incredibly professional manner with which they dealt with the situation.
“The majority of the pub is also fine but the kitchen was not quite as fortunate. In light of this The Tiger will not be open for the next few weeks.”
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In November 2020, fire crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb spent six hours battling a blaze at the pub.
The pub underwent 11 months of refurbishment before it reopened in October the following year.
Harrogate homes flooded and struck by lightning in storm
A house was struck by lightning and others faced flash flooding, as the Harrogate district felt the wrath of last night’s storm.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service night shift summary reported crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough were summoned to a home on East Parade in Harrogate that had been struck by lightning at 22:38.
One occupant suffered shock as a result and was treated by a paramedic but was otherwise unharmed.
Police then cordoned the property due to “an unsafe chimney stack with some debris falling into the road”.
Boroughbridge crews also attended a power line in Ingmanthorpe after it had been struck by lightning, causing it to arc near trees. Crews remained at the scene until it was safe and “left the incident in the hands of power grid engineers.”
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Throughout the night, multiple houses within the district were hit by flash flooding.
Summerbridge firefighters were called to a house on Crab Lane in Harrogate following reports of flooding inside the basement. Crews pumped out water using an ejector pump. This was then left in the hands of the owners.
A house on East Park Road in Harrogate, was also flooded during the storm. Crews assisted occupants in using buckets to remove the water.
Firefighters also attended reports of flooding on Skipton Road and Devonshire Place.
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Fireworks finale will end Ripon’s coronation day celebrationsA fireworks display will provide a spectacular end to coronation day celebrations in Ripon’s Market Square on Saturday night.
North Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have given the go-ahead to a 10-minute display starting at 10.50pm.
The return of pyrotechnics to the city centre follows the cancellation in 2021 and 2022 of Ripon’s traditional New Year’s Eve displays, because of safety concerns about the launch area for the fireworks at the rear of the town hall.
This issue has now been resolved with approval given to a new launch area on The Arcade Car Park.
The Market Square, which has been decked in bunting created by Ripon Community Poppy Project, will be a focal point for the free-to-attend event organised by Ripon City Council to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Today (Saturday) from 11am until 8pm, there will be free fairground rides and from 3pm onwards there will be performances on stage from Cilla & Friends; Katherine Jenkins tribute, Midnight Soul Sisters, and an 80s Pop tribute band.
The Flash: Queen tribute band takes centre stage at 9.30pm to give a rousing build up to the fireworks finale.
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Police launch arson investigation after Harrogate Kimberley Hotel fire
North Yorkshire Police has launched an arson investigation after a fire last night at the Kimberley Hotel in Harrogate.
Eight fire engines were called to the blaze at the hotel off Kings Road at around 11pm. Half the main building was damaged by smoke and an annex was destroyed.
Firefighters closed the road for several hours.
A spokesperson for the police confirmed to the Stray Ferret that officers are now investigating the incident as arson.
They said:
“The incident has been confirmed as arson and a police investigation has been commenced.
“Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area, or anyone who has any information which would assist officers with their enquiries is asked to contact the force control room on 101, quoting reference 12230042171.”
Pictures of the damage caused by the fire inside the hotel. Picture: Harrogate Fire Station.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s incident log this morning said:
“Crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Tadcaster, Northallerton, Skipton and Malton along with the aerial ladder platform responded to reports of smoke issuing from a disused hotel.
“Crews used 20 breathing apparatus, four hose reel jets, one main jet and lance, lighting, thermal imaging cameras, small tools, door enforcer, hydraulic spreaders, reciprocating saw, drills and a triple extension ladder to fight the fire.
“The fire caused 100% fire damage to the annex measuring 10m by 10m and caused 5% fire damage and 50% smoke damage to the main building.”
The hotel off Kings Road has recently being subject to drug and crime concerns.
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Storm Otto leaves Ripon building owners counting the cost
Two well-known and well-used Ripon locations are awaiting repairs after sustaining damage in last week’s Storm Otto.
At the Workhouse Museum in Allhallowgate, part of a chimney stack was brought down by Friday’s high winds and at the nearby bus station, four perspex panels from the roof of a shelter were dislodged by the gale.
Both locations have been made safe and remain open for museum visitors and the travelling public.
The bus station shelter pictured before firefighters removed the damaged perspex roof panels
Helen Thornton, director of Ripon Museum Trust, told the Stray Ferret:
“Storm Otto damaged a lot of property in the district and part of a chimney stack on the west wing of the main workhouse building came down and made two holes in our roof, which have been covered with tarpaulin to minimise any rainwater damage.”
“We are in close touch with our insurers to get an appropriate and timely repair and, as a listed building, we will ensure that this is carried out sensitively, including re-using as much of the stonework as we can, getting the right chimney pot design and so on.”
The cordoned-off area at the Workhouse Museum
Ms Thornton added:
“We have cordoned off the area below the damaged roof and spoken to the other users of the site. Thankfully, we can remain open as usual to museum visitors, groups and schools.”
Following the damage to the roof panels in the bus station shelter, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue issued a statement saying:
“Ripon crews attended the bus station to make a bus shelter safe for the public. Large pieces of perspex had fallen off the roof. Crews removed all perspex using a ladder and small tools.”
A person was taken to hospital today after a two-vehicle collision on the A59 at Blubberhouses.
Harrogate firefighters responded to the incident at 3.13pm this afternoon.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log said one person was trapped in their vehicle.
It added:
“Crews made both vehicles safe and removed the door of one vehicle to allow paramedics access to the trapped casualty.
“Crews assisted in extricating the casualty, who was suffering head injuries, before handing them into the care of ambulance crews to be transported to hospital.”
The incident led to delays on the main route between Harrogate and Skipton.
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North Yorkshire fire chief admits ‘work to do’ following damning report
The chief fire officer at North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service has admitted there’s “work to do” following the publication of a highly critical report that questioned the service’s ability to respond to fires.
The report was published last week by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and it graded North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service following an inspection last year.
It found the service had deteriorated in most areas since its last full inspection in 2018/19.
The report said the organisation’s overall effectiveness “requires improvement” and more needs to be done to keep people safe and secure.
The inspection found that the number of available fire engines sometimes falls to below minimum levels.
It also said the way the service manages its finances is “inadequate” due to the “fragility” of the budget. It described the overall financial situation as “precarious”.
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While the report was largely critical of the service provided to the public, it did praise the organisation for its fire prevention work and how it responds to major incidents.
Chief fire officer, Jonathan Dyson, responded to the report at a public accountability meeting last week for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
He said progress has been made since the inspection took place and tried to reassure the public that it is able to respond to incidents.
Mr Dyson said:
“We’ve work to do. There’s a reflection that it’s a bad report but the service has made improvements.
“We have a back to basics approach to ensure we are building an organisation from the foundations up. We provide competent fire fighters and a competent response and we’ll always deliver at incidents whenever the public needs us.”
Mr Dyson was appointed by Conservative Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe in May 2022, which was after the inspection took place.
Commissioner Metcalfe told the meeting:
‘Serious concerns’ over North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue finances, say inspectors“I’ve appointed a new senior leadership team and I’ve worked with the chief fire officer to implement a rigorous and ongoing programme of improvement to support this process and I will continue to hold the service to account. I am confident that marked improvements have already been made.
“I would like to thank staff and firefighters who continue to make communities safe and they have my full support to improve the service going forward.”
Inspectors have raised “serious concerns” over North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s finances and its ability to respond to fires and other risks.
Inspectors from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services undertook an inspection of the service in spring 2022 for its effectiveness and efficiency.
The report, released today, rates the service as requiring improvement for its effectiveness at keeping people safe.
Meanwhile, the service was rated as inadequate for its efficiency in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks.
It was also graded as inadequate for how it looked after its staff.
‘Serious concerns’
In his report, Roy Wilsher, His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire Services, said he had concerns over the sustainability of the service’s financial plans and its ability to respond to fire and other risks.
Mr Wilsher said the service’s use of resources was inadequate due to the “fragility of its budget”.
He added that he had concern over whether the organisation had the ability to get the right staff with the right skills due to a “lack of robust workforce planning”.
However, Mr Wilsher said the service was good at preventing fires and other risks and had piloted public safety officers at the time of inspection.
He said:
“Since its last inspection, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s performance has deteriorated in most areas.
“Although the service is good at preventing fires and other risks, I have concerns about its ability to respond to them. We have also highlighted serious concerns about how sustainable its financial plans are for managing these risks in an affordable way.
“It needs to make sure collaboration activities, such as those with police are effective and provide value for money. It currently shares some business services with North Yorkshire Police and the office of the police, fire and crime commissioner, but there is little evidence to show its benefits to the service.
“Our inspection also found the service to be inadequate in how it looks after its people. The service needs to improve how it promotes the right values and culture, as well as how it maintains and develops staff performance.
“In view of these findings, we have been in regular contact with the newly appointed chief fire officer and will be revisiting the service to monitor its progress.”
Fire service ‘very disappointed’
In response, Jonathan Dyson, chief fire officer at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said he was disappointed with the outcome of the report.
He said:
“While this is a very disappointing outcome, it is not a reflection of the hard work and dedication that our staff show, every day, to keeping our communities safe, and feeling safe. The inspectors have said that we are good at preventing fires and other risks and responding to major and multi-agency incidents.
“Much of what the Inspectors have focused on relates to service-level policies and practices.
“We do need to acknowledge that the Inspection came at a time of significant change for our service. We were just coming out of covid and transitioning to a new chief fire officer.”
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Mr Dyson added that the service was “absolutely committed” to improving over the next two years as part of an improvement plan and service transformation.
Meanwhile, Zoe Metcalfe, Conservative North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:
“I welcome regular inspections from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), because the reports are an independent and rigorous assessment which I can use to ensure our Fire and Rescue Service becomes an Outstanding Service. I am confident that NYFRS will become an exemplary Service and we are already on our journey to achieve that, I am committed to our success.
“It is extremely important for the public to understand that North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service keeps people safe as noted in the report where the Service is recognised as being good at preventing fires and other emergencies and good in its response to major and multi-agency incidents.
“Although major areas for improvement have been identified, the report recognises the great work being done by firefighters and staff to keep our communities safe. And I want to pay tribute to our courageous and dedicated fire personnel, who have my full support as they go about their vital work – as well as playing their part in improving our Service.”