Moor fire volunteers reflect on 'relentless' task

Farmers used tankers to top up water supplies for firefighters tackling the blaze

As a huge blaze has raged on moorland in North Yorkshire over the past few weeks, fire crews have been joined in their efforts to tackle it by farmers, gamekeepers and landowners - not only from the surrounding area, but also from elsewhere in the country. With the fire now contained, some of those who volunteered their time, energy and equipment have been reflecting on their experiences.

"It was relentless," says Harry Crawforth of the day he spent helping fight the blaze on the North York Moors near RAF Fylingdales, which at its height covered an area of about 10 sq miles (25 sq km).

Though he farms in Bedfordshire, he is originally from East Yorkshire and he says he knew all his mates were helping to get the fire under control so he decided to join them.

"I thought, 'let's go up for the weekend and give them a hand'," he says.

With the decision made, he picked up a tractor on the way and ended up largely working along the route of the A171, the usually busy main road between Whitby and Scarborough.

"I took a tractor and slurry tank and we were just forcing water on wherever we could," he explains.

The fire on Langdale Moor started on 11 August and was finally contained on 27 August

Mr Crawforth says the experience was, perhaps unsurprisingly, a "tiring" one.

"I got up there at 11 o'clock on Saturday morning and didn't get my head down until six o'clock on Sunday morning."

He says that while he arrived after the height of the blaze had passed, its impact on the landscape and surrounding communities was still very clear.

"I know people who've got shoots up there, I've shot up there," he says.

"You don't want to see the farming community lose so much.

"It's also such a massive loss to the shooting industry with the acreage that's been lost."

Mr Crawforth says that while the moorland will eventually recover, it still makes him sad.

"You've got to think of people's grazing for livestock and horses, and people's shooting land that people pay good money for each year," he says.

"They've lost that for the rest of the year."

Farmers, landowners and gamekeepers all volunteered their time and equipment to help contain the blaze

About 10 miles north of Scarborough, the famous seaside town from which the smoke and flames of the wildfire on the North York Moors were clearly visible, is Will Terry's farm at Ravenscar.

In 2003, moorland adjoining his farm caught fire - something which he says was a "frightening experience".

Mr Terry spent a full day fighting the Langdale Moor fire in an effort to help a friend.

"His farmyard is next to the moor and it was pretty obvious if we didn't do something, there was a good chance it could have burnt out," he says.

Mr Terry explains that initially they had been out on the moor with fire beaters, and later they helped put down fire breaks along the side of the Whitby-Scarborough road.

"You couldn't get your bearings because of the smoke," he remembers.

"The heat was immense - and the noise. You couldn't see the fire front because of the smoke at that stage.

"It was a hot day and the smoke was coming at you very hard. By the time you could see the flames they were right on you."

Meanwhile, the smoke was full of debris from the fire floating in the hot air, something which he describes as "really unpleasant".

However, Mr Terry says the community effort to fight the fire on Langdale Moor had not come as a surprise.

"In the countryside, we all help each other," he says.

Farmers' efforts to contain the fire have included creating large paths around the area to create fire breaks

While the fire on the moor is now contained, efforts are still continuing to make sure that occasional flare-ups do not become something more serious.

Martin Bramhall, from Pickering, may be retired, but that has not stopped him taking to a bulldozer to help clear paths around the area of the blaze for fire breaks.

"This is my 11th day," he says. "They've been raising fire breaks through the forestry.

"When the harvester has gone through, we've just gone in and bulldozed a 50 to 60 yard clear path. So, if the fire comes this way, there's a good decent fire break."

Mr Bramhall says the camaraderie among those working to contain the fire has been wonderful.

"I know it's a disaster, but everybody's cheerful. We are all happy and are having a great crack," he says.

"I've got to know a couple of the crews from the fire engines. I didn't reckon a lot to Londoners before, but I've met a London Fire Brigade crew and they're great guys."

The fire has had a devastating impact on the landscape of part of the North York Moors

Mr Bramhall says he cannot give enough praise to all the fire crews who have been at the sharp end of bringing the Langdale Moor wildfire under control.

"They are away from home. I think they are working 12-hour shifts on and off," he explains.

The farmers have also been doing their bit and have been "fantastic", Mr Bramhall adds.

"They are all up here and they are 100% volunteers. They are protecting the farmers and farms that are up here."

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

He said he wanted to thank everyone involved in supporting the fire service's efforts.

That included "farmers, gamekeepers, landowners, contractors, partners, mutual aid, national support".

For Mr Bramhall, the sight of the moorland all "black, charred and burned" is upsetting.

However, he adds a more positive note: "Give it a couple of years, the moors will have greened-up and regenerated."

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