By Leah Conway
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) announced this morning that the fires on Marsden Moor have officially come to a close.
A night of rain assisted the continuing efforts of the firefighting crews. The fire and rescue service have thanked their partners and the crews for the support and efforts.
The fires on Marsden Moor were responded to by a large team, including teams from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS). As well as, other emergency partners, the National Trust, Kirklees Council, landowners and gamekeepers, Mountain Rescue, Plymouth Brethren Response team and other groups who all joined together to tackle the blaze.
Marsden Moor April 2021 – Image Credit: WYFRS
The blaze was reported to the WYFRS around 7pm on Sunday, 25 April. Across the incident, over 100 firefighters, thirteen fire engines and numerous wildfire teams were deployed.
On Monday, 26 April, a helicopter was brought in to help the efforts by dropping water on the worst affected areas. The helicopter utilised a local reservoir to assist in their efforts.
This morning, Wednesday, 28 April, the incident was closed. Crews have retrieved their equipment and will continue to monitor the area.
Marsden Moor April 2021 – Image Credit: WYFRS
Be Moor Aware
Area Manager for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Scott Donegan, said: “This has been a complex operation across a large area of land, and we’re pleased to say that the incident has now been closed.
“Over the 60 hours that we had a large presence at the scene, our crews and all of the partners who were involved in this response worked tirelessly to bring the fire under control, protect the communities around the Moor and try to protect as much of our wonderful landscape as possible.
“Sadly, around 2sq miles of land has been affected by this fire, something which will take years to recover. We talk regularly about the importance of people being vigilant and being responsible while on the moorland and this incident shows the devastating impact that moorland fires can have.
“This fire was particularly complex because of the land that we were working on – some of the areas of fire were difficult to get to, and it was crucial that we worked with our neighbours in Greater Manchester to ensure a coordinated response.
“I’d like to reiterate what we’ve been saying throughout, which is thank you to everyone who’s supported us with our response – to the National Trust representatives, to the landowners and gamekeepers, to the volunteers from Mountain Rescue who attended in numbers to help with spotting and route planning, to the members of the community who delivered very welcome supplies to the cordon.
“As a final thought, let’s let this incident demonstrate the importance of our Be Moor Aware message. Moorland fires can spread very quickly and can put people, animals and property at risk. As this incident has demonstrated, tackling these fires also requires a lot of our time and resource when they occur. Please do think about the consequences that careless or irresponsible behaviour can have on our moorlands.”
Marsden Moor April 2021 – Image Credit: WYFRS
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