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Public urged to stay away as moor fires burn

Julia Bryson,Yorkshireand
Charles Heslett,Marsden Moor
News imageCharles Heslett/BBC Side view of a West Yorkshire Police vehicle parked across a moorland road with two officers standing beside it. In the background a plume of brown and white smoke drifts across the moorland partially obscuring n otherwise blue sky. Charles Heslett/BBC
Moorland roads on the outskirts of Marsden were blocked off by police as the fires raged

Firefighters are at the scene of two fires which have broken out on moorland in West Yorkshire.

People are being asked to leave the area and stay away from Marsden Moor, near Huddersfield, while crews tackle blazes at Deer Hill and in the Five Mile Post area.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) said wildfire specialist teams were at the scene.

Kirklees Council said Manchester Road had been closed between Marsden and Diggle as a result of the fire.

Firefighters and police on the scene of a fire at Marsden Moor.

BBC reporter Charles Heslett said flames were visible across a long stretch of moorland at about 16:00 BST, and a WYFRS command unit van has now been stationed at Mount Road, Marsden.

Firefighters are battling the blaze on foot and using a specialist wildfire all-terrain vehicle called an ArgoCat.

News imageCharles Heslett/BBC A road on a moor which has been blocked off by a police car, with a stop sign put up on the road and a police officer standing nearby. The sky is blue but smoke can be seen rising from the moor. Charles Heslett/BBC
People are being advised to avoid the moor while fire crews are at the scene

Marsden Moor has seen several fires break out in recent years, causing widespread damage.

Just a few weeks ago, crews from Huddersfield, Slaithwaite and Holmfirth tackled a wildfire on Marsden Moor which stretched across more than 1,300 sq ft (400 sq m).

Last March, crews were called to an area close to Cupwith Reservoir at Marsden which was on fire.

In May 2024, emergency services attended a 1,000ft (300m) long wildfire which started at Blakeley reservoir.

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