Farmers help firefighters as moorland fire continues to burn

A fundraiser to provide refreshments for fire crews tackling a major moorland blaze has reached more than £4,000 since it was launched on Tuesday.

Emergency services have been battling the blaze on Langdale Moor, in the North York Moors National Park, since Monday 11 August.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, seven appliances remained at the scene on Wednesday morning and it is continuing to urge people to avoid the area.

Farmers, gamekeepers and the wider community have been out day and night to assist the fire service in trying to bring the blaze under control.

Amy Cockrem, who set up the fundraiser, said she was overwhelmed with the response.

“We have raised so much and still going,” she wrote on Facebook.

Ms Cockrem had initially hoped to raise £100 to take some snacks and drinks to Goathland Fire Station.

However, given the response they were also considering filling tractors with diesel for the farmers who were assisting the fire service at their own expense.

The fire service said work was continuing to try and prevent the fire from spreading further in the national park and while no properties have been affected some areas, including the Grouse Hill Caravan Park, were evacuated on Tuesday.

A number of roads in the area, including the A171 at Fylingthorpe, which is the main road between Scarborough and Whitby, have been closed

A spokesperson for the fire service said the road closures were due to the large amount of smoke in the area.

A full list of closures can be found on North Yorkshire Council’s Facebook page.

The service has also said if people need to be evacuated they will be contacted.

“If you do live in areas near to the fire you might want to consider preparing a grab bag in case you need to leave at short notice.

“Consider packing items like medication, insurance documents, glasses and contact lenses, phones and chargers and other items you might need if you have to leave your property at short notice.”

An army of volunteers have been supporting the fire service’s efforts.

Neil Marsden is a contractor who has been working through the night providing water tankers and diggers to help create fire breaks.

“It just seems like anywhere you went the fire followed you.”

He said it was like driving through “a thick fog” and all he could smell was smoke.

“You seem like you are not getting on top of it but we are making a difference and that’s the best you can do.”

Callum Jackson, who runs Brow House Farm campsite near Goathland, said the community was doing all it can to support the fire service.

“The farmers, my dad for one, are out there. Our main tractor and slurry tanker are out carting water.

“Our gamekeepers are out there with their tractors, toppers and leaf blowers and their firefighting equipment.”

Cara Shardlow lives in Sneatonthorpe near Whitby and said the reality of the situation had really hit and they had been put on standby for evacuation from their farm.

“My dad’s out there driving a tractor and a tanker, my brother’s out there, my uncle has been out all night, plus the Danby fire crew are up on that bit of moor and I went up and took them food.

“They are literally just putting their lives on the line. I’ve heard some awful stories about what farmers have been doing. It’s quite scary.”

She said the support being offered was “amazing”.

“But that is what we do round here. Everybody is clubbing in, there’s offers of help from all over the place.”

The fire has also prompted concerns for livestock, and Karen Yeoman from Borrowby Equestrian Centre near Thirsk has stepped in to offer help.

“We are offering stabling, hay, straw, water and exercise areas for any horses that are directly in the smokestream or at risk from the fire.”

She said she could not imagine what horse owners might be going through as the smoke from the blaze continued to blanket huge areas.

“Horses have very large lungs and the small particles in the smoke can penetrate deep in the airways and settle and cause all sorts of problems.”

Ms Yeoman said a neighbour took in 13 horses on Tuesday and she took in six and is expecting more on Wednesday.

The fire service said it did not normally take donations, however Thirsk Fire Station said “in exceptional times exceptions can be made”.

A spokesperson said: “Thirsk Fire Station would gladly accept donations of long-life food and drinks that we can take to our welfare vehicle that has been left on site for a few weeks now to help keep the many firefighters, farmers and contractors going.”