KEIGHLEY MP John Grogan said he was so impressed with the way a helicopter, commissioned by Bradford Council, had helped tackle the Ilkley Moor fire this weekend that councils should club together and have one on stand by.

Mr Grogan visited the fire command headquarters on Ilkley Moor on Easter Sunday morning as crews from across the district and beyond worked night and day to tackle the blaze which has started on Saturday.

On Sunday night, a further moorland blaze broke out on Marsden Moor, stretching West Yorkshire’s fire and rescue service even further.

He said: “First and foremost West and North Yorkshire Firefighters, the police and Bradford Council played a blinder. Protocols of how to work together in combating wildfires worked a treat.

“All the councils in West Yorkshire plus the emergency services and landowners now plan for such contingencies under the umbrella of the South Pennine Fire Operations Group. The sheer athleticism and determination of the firefighters lugging heavy equipment in searing heat up the moorside has rightly been much remarked upon. More than one onlooker reported seeing young firefighters sink to the ground as they came down off the moor as if they had run a marathon.

“Within two hours of the first signs of smoke on Saturday afternoon Bradford Council had authorised the expenditure of £17,500 on a helicopter to water bomb the area around the fire which was was very uneven ground and difficult to access.

“Hundreds of gallons of water picked up from nearby Panorama Reservoir were dropped on the site.

“So useful was the helicopter that it may be time for the Councils of Yorkshire to club together and sign a long-term contract with a helicopter company so that one is available within hours to deal with wildfires anywhere in God’s own county.

“I am hopeful that there will not be too much long term damage to the ecology of the moor and the wildlife who make their home upon it.

Mr Grogan added: “It is only a matter of weeks ago in mid March since Ilkley was threatened with flooding if the rain had not stopped. One of the adverse impacts of wildfires is increased run-off . Perhaps the new town council to be elected on Thursday, May 2, might consider working with Bradford to develop an emergency plan for Ilkley within the context of the City’s overall plan.

“At a national level it is less than 10 years since the Government recognised wildfires as a serious threat that had to be on the national risk register. Perhaps it is time for the Government to put this body on a statutory or official footing.