Leeds residents have been left worried after a huge field fire that has come alongside 'a number of local fires' recently in the local area - but the causes are unknown.
Late yesterday afternoon (Weds August 10), residents in Rothwell, east Leeds watched plumes of smoke billow over their houses. A huge field fire had started and spread across the area near Haigh Beck - not far from Wood Lane.
It could be seen all over the area, but the cause is unknown. It comes after a local councillor for Rothwell said there have been a number of fires in Rothwell in the past few months - leaving many worried about whether they were started deliberately or were caused by the hot weather.
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Local resident Richard Collings told LeedsLive: "It was three separate fires that quickly merged into one. Farmer cut his crop at start of week and left the straw ready for bailing.
"He’s lost his entire field of straw I saw him racing to get his tractor out and plough a fire break between the torched fields and the crop fields that are awaiting harvest! Can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like to plough a field that’s smouldering to save his crop.
"It was scary, it was less than 100 metres away from houses!"
The fire started around 3.30pm yesterday in Rothwell. West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service attended to put it out. Like the rest of Yorkshire, temperatures are soaring in Leeds this week as part of another heatwave - and in some places hit 30 degrees yesterday. Wild fires are far more likely under such conditions.
Judy Williamson said: "Luckily the fire service got there quickly and started putting it out and it died down quite quickly. It was quite alarming to see it spread so quickly.
"My 17 year old son who has autism, was a bit worried, but he was glad when the fire engine arrived."
Another Rothwell resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "It was very scary, there’s only one way out of my flat and that’s the field side where the fire was. I’m just pleased it didn’t spread any further."
Some residents claimed on Facebook they had seen a group of young people running away from the field - but this is unconfirmed.
Rothwell councillor Conrad Hart-Brooke told LeedsLive: "There have been a number of local fires in recent months, the cause of which is unconfirmed. Clearly the hot dry weather increases both the risk of spontaneous fire, but also the severity of any fire irrespective of the cause.
"Local Facebook comments have linked fires to “youths” but this is unconfirmed. If any resident has evidence or testimony they can give to identify any human cause of the fires then please contact the Police or alternatively councillors in confidence."
Cllr Hart-Brooke added that Rothwell has less police on the streets in 2022 than it did in 2021, and said the community was missing that on the ground resource to counteract any antisocial behaviour.
On July 16, Rothwell parents heading to the local playground at Springhead Park were shocked to find it burned down - in one of the recent fires Cllr Hart-Brooke referred to.
He added: "There is considerable damage to a section of the playground and some items of play equipment are completely destroyed. It’s good to hear from the council that we have commitments to repair and replace this much loved and used play area. Assessment work to do this is already progressing."
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