Care urged over moorland fires

Fire chiefs say the fires – which can caused major damage to moorland and wildlife – are often caused by discarded cigarette butts.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is hoping their warnings will halt the recent spate of moorland fires, such as those recently seen around the Marsden and Ripponden areas.

Robin Ward, who is lead wildfire officer for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The land is particularly dry at the moment because of the lack of rain in recent weeks, so the smallest ignition source will lead to a large wildfire.

"These fires cause damage to farmland, public open spaces and wildlife and quite often they are caused by carelessness. While it's great news that the spell of dry weather is set to continue, it means people should take extra care while out enjoying the countryside.

In recent days firefighters in West Yorkshire have tackled a number of moorland blazes

Firefighters attended a moorland fire of half a square mile at Shuttleworth Moor, Widdop Road, Heptonstall, on Friday.

On Thursday firefighters were called to three different moorland fires; 20 firefighters attended the first incident at Inchfield Road, Walsden, Todmorden, at 3.10pm.

In the second, at 5.50pm firefighters, four fire engines tackled a blaze in which an area of moorland one kilometre by one kilometre was on fire at Rishworth Moor, Baitings Gate Road, Ripponden. At 8.30pm on the same day firefighters from Holmfirth and Holmfirth, were sent to Halifax Road, Littleborough, to help Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service tackle a moorland fire..

On April 18 five fire engines were sent to Binn Lane, Marsden, near Huddersfield, to tackle a moorland fire.

Appliances from Marsden, Slaithwaite, Meltham, and Huddersfield attended along with the Wildfire Unit from Holmfirth an d Holmfirth appliance as support.

Mr Ward said there would be a clampdown on anyone found to be deliberately starting fires.

He said: "We would also like to stress that arson is a very serious matter. Anyone found to have started a fire deliberately which destroys a site of special scientific interest – which includes the majority of the south Pennine moorland – could be fined up to 20,000.

"Moorland fires can take valuable firefighters and fire engines away from other serious fires, often where lives are at risk, which is why we take a very dim view of those who start fires deliberately."

He added Natural England was investigating recent moorland fires.

Mr Ward urged people to follow simple advice:

Never throw lighted cigarette ends out of the windows of vehicles or trains;

Clear up and take your rubbish home after picnics;

Never be tempted to light a fire in the countryside and only barbecue in authorised areas;l

Don't leave glass bottles. Not only can they hurt people and animals, but they can magnify the sun's rays and start a fire.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service now has three specialist wildfire units, based in Keighley, Todmorden and Holmfirth.

The vehicles carry a variety of high-technology lightweight equipment which allows firefighters to tackle moorland fires in remote areas. Equipment includes a high pressure hose which can spray widely or be used as a pinpoint jet.