Moor fire plea to public over bank holiday weekend

Fire crews will patrol areas across West Yorkshire over the bank holiday weekend that have been previously hit by devastating moor fires.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has also issued warnings to the public as part of its Be Moor Aware campaign to help prevent wildfires.

Temperatures of up to 27 degrees have been forecast for Bank holiday Monday in places like Ilkley, Marsden and Meltham.

A series of fires last month destroyed huge swathes of land at Marsden Moor and nearby Blackstone Edge, near Ripponden, and put people, wildlife and emergency services at risk, according to the service.

Mick Rhodes, WYFRS's wildfire lead, said: "We're asking the public to act responsibly when visiting moorland areas.

"Simple actions such as avoiding disposable barbecues and taking litter home can make a vital difference in reducing the risk of devastating fires."

He said the blazes presented "significant challenges" for crews.

They often required long periods of firefighting in remote areas with "rapidly changing conditions".

The cause of last month's moor fires remain unknown, he confirmed.

Rhodes said if someone saw a fire, or signs of one, they should call 999 immediately.

To help mitigate the risk, firefighters will be deployed at various locations across the district, he added.

Crews from Keighley & Spen Valley stations will be at Ilkley Moor's Cow and Calf rocks on Saturday (23 May).

On the same day a crew from Skelmanthorpe will be at Wessenden Head near Meltham Moor and another from Slaithwaite will be based at Butterly Reservoir near Marsden.

Stations across Calderdale district will be taking part in risk reduction activities and have an increased presence across high risk areas.

Calderdale Community Safety Wardens will also patrol in "hot spot" areas.

WYFRS has also issued some some safety tips:

• Do not use disposable BBQs or light fires on moorland, in parks or other open spaces
• Never drop cigarettes or matches on the ground, particularly in dry grassland areas
• Glass bottles and other litter can magnify sunlight and start fires. Always dispose of waste responsibly
• Stick to designated paths as this reduces the risk of accidental ignition and helps protect sensitive habitats
• Do not park on dry grass, as hot exhausts can easily start a fire

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