Caravan park boss thanks farmers for wildfire help

Caroline Butterfield says she "felt lost" as the fire on Langdale Moor moved closer

A caravan park owner has said her business would have gone up in smoke if farmers had not helped to fight a major wildfire on neighbouring moorland.

Caroline Butterfield, who runs Grouse Hill Caravan Park, said the site, on the North York Moors near Whitby, would have been destroyed "without a doubt" if it was not for their efforts, and she was "indebted" to all those who helped out.

The blaze, near RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, started on 11 August and at its height covered an area of about 10 sq miles (25 sq km).

Ms Butterfield said: "We needed those farmers and their tanks on site to deliver massive amounts of water just to keep it at bay."

"When the firefighters were called off for health and safety, the farmers still cracked on," she added.

"They bought their tractors and tankers and went to ponds, streams, wherever they could to get water."

Ms Butterfield said the caravan park would have been destroyed "without a doubt" if it was not for help from local farmers

Ms Butterfield said she and her husband, Andrew, had been helping evacuate people from the caravan site for several days before they, too, were asked to pack their bags.

"It was about getting everyone else to safety. Then the reality that I was being evacuated from my home sort of kicked in," she explained.

"I just thought, there was no more fight in me to build or try and build the caravan site. I felt lost. Luckily, I didn't have to do that, and we'll carry on doing what we do."

Ms Butterfield said Grouse Hill, which was due to reopen on Friday, would "lose a proportion of business" due to the fire and its aftermath, but it was "resilient".

Meanwhile, she called for an inquiry into the handling of the blaze, saying it should have been "nipped in the bud" early on.

Farmers and landowners were among those who helped provide more water and worked to contain the blaze

David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire said he "applauded" the help and support given to the fire service by farmers, local residents and landowners in tackling the fire.

"They have been a key part to the success of the situation," he said.

Skaith also praised fire crews, saying they had done a "huge amount of work" to contain the blaze at Langdale Moor.

"Fundamentally, the work of the fire and rescue service [was key], in partnership with many other organisations," he said.

Skaith said York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority would "make sure" people had financial support in the aftermath of the fire.

The combined authority and the chief of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service "made no decisions based on finances" when it came to dealing with the blaze, he said.

"It was much about combatting this fire and putting it out.

"Now we know we have the support from the government, we are looking at how we are placed to support businesses and communities that have been affected."

Skaith criticised 14 years of "complete failings" by previous local and national governments, and said when he came into post in 2024 the fire service was "about £20m down on where we should be".

There would be an inquiry involving North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum to ensure services were in "the best place possible", he said.

At its height, the fire covered an area on the North York Moors of about 10 sq miles (25 sq km)

Jonathan Dyson, North Yorkshire Fire Service's chief fire officer, said in a statement that the blaze had been "contained" since 27 August.

Support from other fire services was expected to end on Friday, leaving local crews to monitor and handle any flare-ups, he confirmed.

"This is because they are used for a finite period of time, providing respite to our crews allowing our on-call firefighters to return to their primary employment," he said.

Fire and National Resilience teams, seconded from other services across the UK, were brought in after flare-ups caused by strong winds on 25 August.

North Yorkshire Fire Service had been supported by crews from other fire brigades, including West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Gloucester and London.

Mr Dyson said he wanted to thank everyone involved in supporting the fire service's efforts, including "farmers, gamekeepers, landowners, contractors, partners, mutual aid, national support".

"I can state, and we have now the absolute confidence, we have done everything we can to resolve this incident in the fastest possible time," he added.

"Our attention now turns to recovery and investigation."

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