Due to several incidents requiring six or more fire engines, we saw a high volume of work for our operational staff, including calls into our control room.
Area Manager Scott Donegan said “The hot dry weather alongside various incidents saw our call volume increase over the day yesterday, until we had to ask the public to only call us for the more significant incidents. Our control room took a significantly higher volume of calls and our crews worked tirelessly under hot and challenging circumstances. The public really heeded our request to support us, and for that we extend our thanks.
“Despite the large number of incidents, we are pleased to reassure you that we plan for this type of situation and no lives were put at risk. We utilised resources including careful planning, smart assigning from our control room and offers of assistance from neighbouring brigades to ensure that fire cover across the whole of West Yorkshire remained at a safe level.
“However, this is a good time to remind the community of what they can do to help us – please follow our #BeMoorAware advice and don’t take anything flammable onto our moorland – these wildfires are some of the most resource-intensive incidents we attend. Please only call 999 in an emergency and take all safety steps you can to protect you and your home, like installing and testing smoke alarms.”
For further safety tips on how you can protect yourself and help us make West Yorkshire safer visit www.wyfs.co.uk/safety