Stunt started £400k 3-day moorland blaze
A MAN torched 285 hectares of Marsden Moor and sparked a threeday fire when he set off a firework in front of his partner.
Viktor Riedly, from Huddersfield, had intended to record the bang caused by the firecracker he had hauled to the top of the moor when it sparked a 60-hour fire and a response from 100 firefighters on April 25.
Leeds Crown Court heard the 28-year-old tried to put out the fire with a two-litre bottle of water and threw mud at it in a bid to stop it spreading.
Prosecutor Eddison Flint told the court that Riedly’s moorland stunt cost the council £400,000 and fire crews spent three continuous days trying to put the blaze out.
Eighteen fire engines arrived at the scene and six specialist units including additional crews from
Greater Manchester, Mr Flint added.
It was revealed that Riedly’s intention had been to record the firecracker being set off and his girlfriend had carried the recording equipment up the moorland.
Mr Flint said that Riedly had used a shield to protect himself from sparks but soon realised something had gone wrong.
He then used the wooden shield to try and put out the initial fire having failed in his attempts with the water from a bottle - but that too caught light.
Mr Flint said the couple realised the fire was spreading too quickly and went to ask for help.
Anastasis Tasou, defending, added that Riedly did everything he could to put out the fire including using his own clothing in bid for it to be extinguished.
Riedly, of Henry Street, Huddersfield, admitted one count of arson but his sentencing was adjourned as the Record Jeremy Hill-Baker wanted to hear evidence from witnesses.
The next hearing will take place at the same court on February 25.
Torrential rain fell on the wider Huddersfield area at around 7.30pm on April 28, helping to finally extinguish the three-and-a-half mile long stretch of burning peat and grass.
Crews remained on the moors overnight to check no fires re-ignited and monitoring continued for the days that followed.