Fire boss urges BBQ ban extension amid moor blazes
Charles Heslett/BBCEmergency services have asked that a ban on barbecues and fires on stretches of West Yorkshire's moorlands be extended after recent wildfires.
People caught flouting the ban can be fined £100 but it expires this summer - so West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has urged Bradford Council to continue its crackdown on "careless or negligent" behaviour.
The risk of wildfire increases as the weather becomes dryer and there have been a number of incidents around Marsden Moor recently.
West Yorkshire's Chief Fire Officer John Roberts said the ban was a "crucial step in mitigating these risks".
The ban - a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) - was first introduced in 2019 and included setting off fireworks and lanterns.
Its success meant it was extended until 2022 and the council is now debating on whether it should be further extended to 2028, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
A report said: "A significant portion of the district's moorland areas are subject to rights of access, either because of their designation as common land, or as 'open country' and therefore subject to a right to roam.
"Members of the public rightly visit these areas for recreation purposes but often this includes lighting camp fires or portable barbecues.
"But since the PSPO was enacted in the Bradford district, there have been, thankfully, no serious wildfire incidents."
A letter from Mr Roberts said: "Over the past three years, we have witnessed several devastating moorland fires that underscore the urgent need for effective wildfire prevention measures.
Craig Hannah Photography"West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has attended two significant wildfires this month alone.
"The frequency and severity of moorland fires have been increasing, posing significant threats to our environment, wildlife and local economies."
Earlier this week a dozen fire crews tackled a blaze close to Holmfirth.
On 10 April crews attended a large moorland fire which began near March Haigh Reservoir, a few miles away from Marsden.
In late March, more than a dozen fire crews tackled a moorland blaze measuring close to Cupwith Reservoir, also close to Marsden.
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