Wildfires Yorkshire: Live updates as clean up operation begins following wildfires in Yorkshire
A number of wildfires broke out in Yorkshire on the hottest day the region has ever seen.
The temperature has hit 37 degrees in the country for the first time, beating the previous record of 36 in 2019.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBut the scorching temperatures led to fires breaking out across Yorkshire, and major incidents being declared by the emergency services.
A temperature of 40.3C was provisionally recorded in Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, on Tuesday afternoon, beating the previous record for the UK of 38.7C in Cambridge three years ago, by 1.6C.
The Met Office said at least 29 observation sites across England have provisionally broken the previous all-time record, from Bramham, in West Yorkshire, to Charlwood, in Surrey.
A huge fire broke out in Doncaster, sending plumes of smoke into the air and making the streets look like something more usually seen in Australian wildfires.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHouses were on fire in Barnsley and South Yorkshire Fire Service said it was at "many incidents" on Tuesday.
Emergency services in Humberside, South Yorkshire and North Yorkshire all declared major incidents.
Follow the latest in our blog below.
Yorkshire heatwave and fires latest as major incident declared
Key Events
Humberside Fire and Rescue has issued advice after declaring a major incident due to the fires.
Here are some ways you can help reduce the likelihood of fires starting
- Don’t discard cigarettes or matches whilst walking or driving through the countryside
- Don’t have BBQs in unauthorised areas and make sure it is cold before it is disposed of correctly - never leave it unattended
- Don’t start campfires in the countryside
- Don’t discard rubbish – litter such as reflective cans and glass can start fires
- Report any evidence of illegal fire setting activity
In an event of a fire
- Move to a safe place and call the fire service on 999 immediately, provide as much detail as you can – size of fire, location and terrain
- Don’t tackle the fire
- If you haven’t already, evacuate the area as soon as possible – these fires can spread fast
Gallery
Take a look at pictures from across the country as wildfires break out on the hottest day the UK has ever seen
Doncaster
This incredible image shows Doncaster looking like an Australian bush fire earlier today.
Monisha Rockett shared an image of a road in Sprotbrough, to the north of the town centre, with 'ash falling from the sky'.
The fire has also spread to the garden of a house beside the tracks.
Disruption
As well as the wildfires, the heat has caused widespread disruption on the transport system.
Amid the sweltering heat a major incident was declared in London in response to a surge in fires across the capital, nine people have died since Saturday in swimming accidents and there has been widespread disruption to train services.
Hero firefighters
Yorkshire's fire services have released pictures of crews fighting wildfires in ferocious temperatures as they plead with the public to heed their advice.
We’ve put together a gallery of our hero firefighters battling to save Yorkshire.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.