This summer’s heatwave sparked a fire that ripped through the North Yorkshire Moors in August.
More than 6,000 acres of moorland – much of it used for grazing – have been ravished by the fire. But properties and more importantly lives were saved due to a community effort to put the fires out.
Among the volunteers that supported the emergency services were members of Young Farmers’ Clubs, eager to help where they could.
When the fire threatened the property of Whitby YFC’s Chair Dan Souter, he didn’t even need to ask for help.
“When the original fire started, we hung back as the fire brigade had it all under control. But on 13 August we had another incident at Jugger Howe, which is very close to my home.
“We thought oh dear, here we go, we’re going to have to make our mark. I didn’t have time to coordinate anything – but members just came out and volunteered,” said Dan who consulted with the fire brigade before adding his own tractor and tanker to the haul of machinery facing up to the fires.
“I fetched the tractor and tanker at about 3pm and I was there until two in the morning,” said Dan who was just at the start of a sleepless few weeks.
Each time they thought the fire was under control another would start the process again.
“It was scary,” admitted Dan. “I went home in the early hours of Tuesday morning after the bank holiday, got about an hour’s kip and then came back out again at 3.30am.
“I can remember heading towards a five-to-six-mile wall of fire in the middle of the night. That’s a sight I will never forget.
“It was a case of we’ve just got to stop it spreading and do what we can to help.”
Members from clubs across the Eskdale District got involved, including several members from Whitby YFC, and all worked together with the local community.
“A lot of them were helping with logistics. A lot of people were passing messages on. Everyone who was in a club in the local area just came out to help.
“It was the whole community that pulled together. It wasn’t just a case of tanking water; it was damping all the hot spots down. So, that meant riding round with a bucket, digging a hole, tipping water in to make a sloppy solution to try to get into the peat to put the fire out.
“It was hard graft. It was: get your hands mucky and dig in!”
It wasn’t just local members who stepped up to help.
When Bedford YFC member Harry Crawforth got a call from a friend in Whitby YFC asking if he could bring a tractor and tanker to help tackle the fires, he didn’t hesitate. Harry loaned his equipment and spent the weekend in Yorkshire supporting the effort.
“I came up to try and give someone a bit of a break as people were working and sleeping in tractors,” said Harry, who only joined Bedford YFC in 2024. “Joining Bedford YFC has been one of the best decisions of my life. Everyone is so welcoming – they’re there for you when you’re in a pickle with anything, and someone is always at the other end of the phone.”
This time it was Harry’s turn to respond to a cry for help.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in Whitby and know a lot of people there, so I wanted to support them.
“I was told that without the help of volunteers like us, the fire could have spread massively. I’m glad that I went as that piece of kit worked a treat – it really made a difference. The only downside was no sleep!”
While the fires are now out, the devastation they have left will have a lasting impact on the community.
Whitby YFC are looking at ways they can offer support and have been involved in talks with fire crews and the national parks to raise awareness.
“I feel it’s important we share the message with the next generation because God forbid it ever happens again in 20 or 30 year’s time, they need to know what to do.”
Dan can still see smoke on the moors – a daily reminder of how they survived their August nightmare.
“The only thing that will put it out properly is a lot of snow,” said Dan who’s praying for a cold winter. “And then we’ll need the tractors again to dig everyone out.”
