The major incident status for the moorland fire at Langdale/Fylingdales Moor has officially been de-escalated, according to an announcement today from Chief Fire Officer Jonathan Dyson
The fire, which has been burning since mid-August, has now been successfully contained for over three weeks.
In a media release, Chief Fire Officer Dyson confirmed the change in status but stressed that the situation is still active. He stated,
“While the fire is no longer classified as a major incident, it remains an active situation and fire crews will continue to monitor the area daily”.
Fire crews will perform daily checks at numerous points to ensure any flare-ups remain within the contained area and to prevent any spread. Mr Dyson explained that due to the nature of the blaze, continued vigilance is necessary. He described it as a "deep-seated fire deep into the peat" and noted there is "still deep-seated heat within the peat," which means flare-ups could still occur. Members of the public are urged to call 999 immediately to request the fire service if they see any flare-ups.
Authorities also highlighted ongoing risks, including the presence of unexploded ordnance on the moor. The public is asked to remain "vigilant" and to continue avoiding the area if possible, following all guidance on access restrictions and diversions for walking and cycling routes. This information is available on the North Yorkshire Council website via the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum section.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, with Mr Dyson stating that it will "take some time" due to the large amount of data to review and the number of people to interview.
With the incident now de-escalated, the focus is shifting towards long-term recovery. The North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum Recovery Group is coordinating these efforts. As part of this, the Ministry of Defence will work with the recovery group and landowners to conduct surveys to ensure fire breaks and other disturbed areas are made as safe as possible.
Chief Fire Officer Dyson extended his gratitude to everyone involved in tackling the incident. In a video update, he gave a "huge thank you once again to our farmers contractors and gamekeepers who've worked with us tirelessly throughout this incident". He also thanked local businesses and communities for their "vital" support, as well as partner agencies, other fire services, and his own fire crews and support staff. Mr Dyson added that the work of the crews "has been testimony to your professionalism and your dedication to protecting the communities of York and North Yorkshire".
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