Devastating moor fire ‘apocalyptic’
THESE are the dramatic scenes as fire crews spent 12 hours battling an enormous ‘apocalyptic’ blaze on Marsden Moor.
The wildfire started at about 8pm close to the Old Carriage House pub on the A62 Manchester Road and at its height the flames spread across 1.5km.
More than 40 firefighters from crews across West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester battled the blaze through Tuesday night into yesterday morning.
Images showed silhouette homes, farms and wildlife as the huge flames raged in the background.
As daylight broke the worst of the fire was out with the crew commander saying the lack of visibility had made their work even harder.
By 6am the fire had been extinguished but crews remained at the site as the heather could reignite at any time.
Ian Moxon, from Huddersfield Fire Station, said: “We were one of the first responders to the scene. It was quite a sight on arrival – probably measuring about 1.5km although it looked even more dramatic because it was night time.
“We’ve had moorland fires as big as this one, but they are normally in the day.”
The fire was described as ‘apocalyptic’ by onlookers, with many concerned about it being symptomatic of the unusually warm weather for this time of year and whether this was connected to climate change.
Passing motorists reported being able to feel the heat from the flames before the A62 was closed on Tuesday night.
And the flames could be seen for miles across Huddersfield.
Ian added: “It covered some area. I think with it being night time it does make it all the more dramatic and harder to deal with.
“You have poor vision and can’t see the ground underfoot. There were two wildfire units who have blowers to blow the flames out, and 4x4 vehicles for rough terrain. We were also joined by a crew from Greater Manchester Fire.”
Residents living in a group of houses closest to the flames said there was a ‘wall of fire’ over the moors.
They said that although fires were quite common on the moors, they never happened in February, when the area is normally covered by snow.
Bernard Thorpe said the blaze got to within about 400m of his home and smallholding with alpacas and other animals.
But he said he was confident the flames would not jump over the stream at the bottom of the valley.
He said: “It was just a wall of fire all over the moors.
“They looked six foot high, some of the flames.
“It was about that time when the fire engines all appeared and it just got gradually worse, got closer and closer.
“It was a bit scary at about one o’clock in the morning but then it all subsided.”
Mr Thorpe said: “It’s in the back of your mind that it could jump over (the stream). But it’s not that dry, it’s still wet and it would take a lot for it to jump over a stream and set fire to the other side.”
He and his neighbours said they think the fire may have started in a bin by the side of the A62 about a mile up the road from where they
live. They said it was not unusual to see moor fires on the surrounding land, with a big blaze seven years ago and another last April.
But asked whether it was normal at this time of the year, Mr Thorpe said: “I’ve never seen anything like it in February, only snow.”
Crew commander Steve Bairstow, from Rastrick Fire Station,
It was just a wall of fire all over the moors. They looked six foot high, some of the flames.
also said the operation was scaled back yesterday morning with the colder overnight temperatures helping efforts. “Five pumps were sent out at 6am although it had died down quite a bit,” he said.
The five pumps and two wildfire units remained at the scene for most of yesterday.
A spokesman for the National Trust, which maintains the land at Marsden Moor, said: “It’s been really upsetting to see such devastation here at Marsden Moor.
“Our rangers and volunteers are working closely with the emergency services.
“Please help us protect the moors and wildlife by calling the fire brigade immediately if you spot any signs of fire.”