West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service News

Jeff Naylor was the last firefighter to die in West Yorkshire when he ran into a burning building in a bid to save others. On the anniversary of that tragic incident, staff from the fire service came together at a special ceremony held in Keighley to remember his heroic actions, an act which will never be forgotten by the service. Jeff was part of a team that responded to a house fire in Keighley on April 27, 1983. He ran into the burning building to save children trapped inside, working a...

The fires that lit up vast areas of Marsden Moor last Thursday are being investigated as arson. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is working with West Yorkshire Police to get to the bottom of these crimes that caused damage to areas of moorland and wildlife. Risk of wildfires Richard Hawley, temporary group manager and WYFRS’s lead wildfire officer said: “We are working with the police to try and identify the people responsible for these horrific fires and bring them t...

Startling figures reveal that drowning is a bigger killer than house fires in West Yorkshire, with nine deaths taking place in one year.  National Be Water Aware Week West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has joined forces with other fire and rescue services locally and nationally urging people to heed the dangers of open water. The campaign, led nationally by the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC) is being backed locally by Yorkshire Water, which owns many of the bodies...

Crews were called to fires in Marsden as meters of moorland went up in flames at two different sites.  Fire crews from Slaithwaite, Meltham, Rastrick, Halifax, and Cleckheaton attended along with wildfire crews from Todmorden, Keighley, and Skelmanthorpe to tackle the first blaze off Old Mount Road. moorland fire They were called at around 3.50 pm to the moorland fire which measured around 1.5 km by 500 meters. Firefighters used blowers, beaters, Landrovers, Polaris, and water relays to...

Specialist wildfire training has been given to a fire officer in West Yorkshire, in a bid to reduce the number of incidents in summer. Richard Hawley from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) went to Spain recently with a team from the UK. intensive training The intensive week of training looked at how burning vegetation in a controlled way can be used as a tool to tackle fast-moving wildfires. Richard, who is the temporary group manager and WYFRS’s lead wildfire officer, spe...

Crews from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) were called at around 11 am to the leak at Trinity House flats in Kirkgate, Wakefield. Firefighters from Wakefield, Normanton and Dewsbury attended and by early afternoon the situation was escalated to a major incident and people were being evacuated from their homes. The evacuation was undertaken by all emergency services as well as Wakefield District Housing and the local authority. Residents went to the nearby Wakefield Spir...

The #BeMoorAware campaign aims to prevent wildfires and reduce the impact on communities, businesses, and the environment. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) teamed up with West Yorkshire Police, Bradford City Council, and Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) Officers for the event on Wednesday last week. WYFRS’ Wildfire team from Keighley spoke with the public at the event on Ilkley Moor, asking them about their awareness of PSPOs and advising them on how to prevent wild...

Emergency services teamed up in a bid to highlight the dangers of using nitrous oxide while driving.  West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), worked with Bradford City Council, West Yorkshire Police, and Yorkshire Ambulance for an event at Centenary Square in Bradford. dangers of nitrous oxide They were joined by Bradford's New Direction, Change Grow Live, as they demonstrated the dangers of taking nitrous oxide while behind the wheel. The gas, commonly known as laughing gas,...

Over a fourteen-year career, Laura Boocock, 39, has progressed through the ranks to the position of Calderdale District Commander, which means she currently holds the highest rank ever as a female firefighter at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS). Despite women being more than half the population, only eight out of 100 firefighters nationally are women, with similar statistics within WYFRS. Using International Women’s Day (Wednesday) as a platform, Laura is urging women to com...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is, on No Smoking Day, warning that smoking kills- and not just because of the effects it has on health. Every year thousands of fires in the UK are caused by cigarettes, lighters, and other smoking materials, such as pipes and cigars, and many of these could be prevented if smokers followed safety guidelines. Area manager Scott Donegan said as the pioneering cause of fire-related fatalities, it's important to be aware of the potential dangers...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has released the shocking video after the owner of the property, in Halifax, agreed it needed to be seen, to educate the public on the dangers of lithium batteries. The video shows the owner rushing downstairs in the middle of the night after being woken by a popping noise, created by the batteries of an electric motorbike being charged inside the house. The sound indicated the batteries were failing due to thermal runaway–this is when too mu...

A party drug warning has been issued by firefighters following several serious road traffic collisions. Firefighters in Bradford are staging an event to highlight the dangers of using nitrous oxide behind the wheel. nitrous oxide Crews from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) will be at Centenary Square in Bradford on March 19, when they will have a mock road traffic accident showing what can happen while taking nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. The gas is becomin...

The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority has approved a slight rise in its portion of council tax. Compared to the previous year, the rise will be six pence per week for Band A taxpayers, and 10p per week for Band D taxpayers. However, despite the rise, the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority precept remains the fourth lowest cost-per-head-of-population in the country. The authority took this decision following a survey earlier this year, where members of the public were asked if...

A new initiative has been launched to provide vulnerable residents with emergency packs, which are filled with items to help keep them warm. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has been involved in the scheme as part of the ongoing effort to address the cost-of-living crisis in Leeds. immediate relief packs The packs aim to provide immediate relief for residents while they wait for specialist services. Each pack contains items including a fleece blanket, thermal flask mug, and hot...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has been responding to requests for aid from Ukraine since the conflict broke out. They joined firefighters from across the UK when they answered a call for help, sending a convoy of fire engines and other equipment over 2,000 miles across Europe to help those in need. Since then, they've continued to support in any way they can - even helping displaced families find homes. Matthew Hayes, Crew Manager at Killingbeck Station, has even been prov...

Keeping a commercial kitchen fire-safe should be a priority for all chefs and restaurant owners.  Figures show that 70% of fires in public houses, restaurants, and takeaways are caused by an accumulation of dirt and grease inside their extractor or ventilation fan systems. WYFRS recommendations To reduce the likelihood of damage from accidental fire, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) recommends getting the system serviced every three to six months depending on usage and freq...

Military veterans and firefighters Kev and Mike Sutcliffe are undertaking the challenge to raise funds for The Grenfell Foundation and The Firefighters Charity. Kev works for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) while his brother works for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS). The duo will be conquering Bridgewater Place as they climb 24 stories 72 times. The 24 storeys symbolize the height of Grenfell Tower, and the 72 times symbolizes each life lost at the devastating tow...

Fire crews from across West Yorkshire were called to the Canterbury Youth Center on Arum Street around 7.30 am, where they found smoke pouring from the roof before it erupted into flames. Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control by 11.30 with crews on the scene until nearly 1 pm, and an investigation into the cause of the fire has revealed it to be arson. West Yorkshire Police are now conducting a criminal investigation. The fire damage was so severe the center is now set to...

Fire service staff are showing their commitment to diversity and inclusion with an event to help colleagues understand more about the LGBTQ+ community.  West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month, which focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history. webinar and workshop As part of the month-long celebrations, staff will be taking part in a webinar and workshop, which will focus on the use of pronouns, gender identities, and the history...

Firefighters are backing a national campaign to highlight the everyday accidents that can cause fires in homes across West Yorkshire.  West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is urging people to be extra careful on Valentine’s Day and ensure candles are kept away from flammable objects and are never left unattended. Fire Kills campaign In February, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is running its annual Fire Kills campaign to raise awareness of fire safety in the home....

Most apprentices don’t get a chance to ride on a fire engine, work in vaccine centers, and make a difference in communities across West Yorkshire.  Lewis Bell But then, working with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) comes with a few exciting perks, as 22-year-old Lewis Bell has discovered. After completing his apprenticeship in ICT Project Management with the fire service he has been nominated to receive an Employer Choice Award as part of National Apprenticeship Week....

Trade Bathroom and Tiles Ltd on Saville Road in Castleford will be opening its doors this weekend after almost of year of work to rebuild following the fire last year. The company, which has been in business for 26 years, was gutted following the blaze, which was triggered by a lithium battery in a tool that was charging overnight. Owners Sandra and Paul Marchington said they will never forget that night, on April 28th, when they were called by crews from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Servic...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) partnered with The Prince’s Trust to deliver the Get Started with Boxing program aimed at 16 to 30-year-olds not in employment, education or training.  The Get Started Programs are part of an ongoing partnership between WYFRS and The Prince’s Trust. Each one sees young people spend a week developing the confidence and key skills they need to make the next positive steps in their lives. The most recent week of activities took p...

Crews from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) spoke to students at colleges and universities across the county and gave them a chance to take part in a quiz focused on road and fire safety. The winner was University of Huddersfield student Fengyn Zai. In total 4,388 students entered the competition which looked at various safety messages, from wearing a seat belt to being careful around quiet electric vehicles and scooters. Matter of water safety The quiz highlighted the importanc...

Lorna Dodd, from Queensbury, only took part in her first triathlon last summer, but her second triathlon saw her take part in qualifying races and make the cut to represent her country later this year.  As part of the Super-Sprint Distance team, Lorna will be swimming 400 m, cycling 10 km, and running 2.5 km in the 30-34 age group. Lorna United WYFRS Lorna joined West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) in 2016 after her sports science degree led her into a range...

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dave Walton said: “The decision to take this action has not been taken lightly, especially given the resultant upheaval it has caused for many people. We had no choice but to act in this way after our investigations highlighted serious concerns and risk to life." “We were called in after a survey of the building revealed several potential fire risks. The risks were so serious that it would have been dangerous to allow people to continue to stay in the build...

Alex Abrams will be tackling the London Marathon in April and then will also run the Leeds Marathon just three weeks later. She has also decided to continue her fundraising efforts by doing the Great North Run in September. Alex is taking on the challenges in a bid to raise funds in memory of her dad, Darren Abrams who died suddenly in November. Darren worked with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) as a firefighter for nearly 20 years and was part of the Red Watch Team at Hunsl...

A newborn baby had to be treated for smoke inhalation following a fire at a West Yorkshire home caused by a faulty tumble dryer.  This incident, which happened in Hatfield Road, Bradford, is one of several similar incidents where fires appear to have been caused by faulty electrics on appliances across the region. Testing appliances Firefighters are urging the public to get their appliances tested, especially second-hand machines, to stop any further incidents. This warning coincides wit...

The legal requirements mean that those responsible for high-rise buildings need to provide information on their building to the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS). This can be done via the WYFRS website and should include details of the external walls, buildings and floor plans and information on known faults with key firefighting equipment. Fire Safety Regulations 2022 Coming into force on January 23rd, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, will implement the majority of re...

Officers at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) have thanked Luke Hartshorn for springing into action during the hair-raising incident on Saturday morning.  The 66-year-old woman, who does not wish to be named, is a volunteer guide dog walker. She got into difficulty in the River Calder just before 10 am after the trainee guide dog she was out walking slipped into the water. As she was trying to get the dog out, she too slipped down the bank and into the ice-cold water. Only by...