West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester firefighters tackle moorland fires
At its height, the fire front stretched for more than one mile (1.6km).
Fire service officials hope predicted rainfall will dampen moorland and the weather will help prevent further outbreaks.
Robin Ward, of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said: “It’s very much an on-going situation, we’ll be monitoring it for the next couple of days.
Pete Buckley, from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said crews had been forced to withdraw from the hillside as darkness fell on Tuesday evening “for safety reasons” and were then tasked with protecting “isolated local buildings”.
Lakeside shopping centre evacuated after smoke canister set off
Half of the Lakeside shopping complex in Thurrock was filled with smoke when fire crews arrived at about 21:00 BST on Tuesday.
The shopping centre, Europe’s largest, was evacuated after a smoke canister was set off in a shop.
Eyewitnesses told of their shock at finding themselves surrounded by smoke.
Staff moved all shoppers and workers out of the building.
A high pressure fan was used to clear the site of smoke.
Nobody was injured.
It is understood Lakeside will open as normal on Wednesday.
Essex Police is yet to comment on the incident.
Doncaster fire calls response targeted
It was announced last week that the target response times for Doncaster fire crews to attend life-threatening incidents could be axed under new proposals.
Currently the target for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue is to attend 80 per cent of house fires or road crashes in six minutes or less which could also be extended to around 10 minutes after the brigade failed to hit the mark.
Also a third risk-based option – where communities traditionally prone to more fires have one target and those with fewer blazes a different one – is also being put out to public consultation from the beginning of this week.
The brigade – which has to save £9.5m over four years – has not met its self-set six-minute target once in six years and the report to the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority said research showed response times were ‘not the main factor in preventing fire fatalities’.
1000 tonnes of straw on fire in Norfolk village barn
Firefighters were called to a huge blaze at a barn in a West Norfolk village on 9th November.
It is reported that a 1,000-tonne straw stack was on fire when crews arrived on the scene.
The blaze in Oxborough near Swaffham and Downham Market was reported at 10pm. Fire crews from Swaffham and Methwold attended the incident.
A spokesperson for the fire service said that the fire did not pose an immediate risk to the public and would be left to burn in a controlled manner with fire crews remaining on site throughout.
She said crews had made contact with the farmer who owned the land and were waiting for him to arrive at the scene.
There were no casualties reported in the incident and the cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Firefighters issue warning after Dartford Heath fires
Fire crews are warning people to be careful following a number of bush fires on Dartford Heath.
There have already been 13 call-outs made to this area this year which is 11 more than the same time last year.
Phil Rice, Station manager in the Kent Fire and Rescue Service west group said: “When it is dry, warm and windy these fires can spread very quickly. You only need a bit of wind or breeze and you can get caught out. About six years ago, two firefighters got burnt on Dartford Heath when the wind changed and it blew back in their faces.”
Watch manager for Dartford Dave Read said: “These types of fires often need lots of resources and divert firefighters away from other incidents such as house fires or road crashes where lives may be in danger. There are a number of ways in which people can help us, such as discarding cigarettes and rubbish carefully. We’d also like to warn deliberate fire-setters that if they are caught, they face fines or several years in jail – possibly a life sentence if someone is killed as a result of their actions.”