Marsden Moor fire: Crews tackle fresh blaze on moorland

Firefighters are tackling a wildfire on Marsden Moor in West Yorkshire.

Crews were called to the scene at Binn Lane, near Butterley Reservoir, on Friday afternoon.

A 200 sq m area is currently on fire and the flames are spreading quickly, according to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Firefighters from 13 stations are at the scene and the service said it is the eighth fire it has been called to on Marsden Moor so far this year.

Four wildfire units are tackling the blaze, with an all-terrain Argocat at the site and a Polaris vehicle on its way, a spokesperson said.

Crews from Meltham, Todmorden, Slaithwaite, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Rastrick, Halifax, Leeds, Cleckheaton, Mirfield, Odsall, Featherstone and Skelmanthorpe fire stations were called to the scene.

"Firefighters are using blowers, beaters and hoses to help extinguish the flames,", a spokesperson said.

The Marsden area of West Yorkshire has recorded some of the lowest rainfall totals in the UK, with no measurable rainfall for almost four weeks.

With a constant breeze from the east and abundant levels of sunshine, the land has become tinder dry.

Moreover, when current ground conditions and expected weather conditions are taken into consideration, the area is classed by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) as being at very high risk of wildfires in the coming days.

It's something the fire authorities are keeping a very close eye on, with the region's first heatwave expected to begin this weekend.

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