LATEST: Firefighters have now left Ilkley Moor

FIVE West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue appliances and crews remained on Ilkley Moor yesterday and spent all night monitoring three sectors of the moor in the aftermath of the weekend's fire.

Councillor Mike Gibbons (Con, Ilkley), who was on the moor from Saturday afternoon into the early hours of Sunday at the command centre praised the work of the emergency services.

"I am hugely grateful to the fire service and the emergency services for everything they did," he said. "It is quite distressing to see the moorland that we all love going up in flames. We can only be grateful that it was not worse. I understand crews are still working away and our ongoing thanks go to them."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Fire crews at White Wells on Ilkley Moor. Photo: WYFRSFire crews at White Wells on Ilkley Moor. Photo: WYFRS

Councillor Martin Smith (Con, Ilkley) said: "Around 4.15pm I had a phone call from the leader of Bradford Council to advise me of the moor fire to the east of the White Wells. At 4.20pm I went from my home half a mile away to see what the issues there were and was astounded by the extent and the superb response from the Fire Brigade, Police, Bradford Emergency officer team and ramblers, as well as Bradford Council wardens."

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He added: "All in all we residents are grateful for the attendance and actions of the emergency services and the professionalism they showed and the pilots of the helicopter douser team who worked all day Sunday to transport water to the site, damping down this huge area from White Wells to the Cow and Calf rocks, Rocky Valley and almost to Crossbeck Road and Cowpasture Road.

This mustn't happen again. It is not only dangerous, immensely expensive but destructive to the moor and wildlife - Councillor Anne Hawkesworth

"One asks how long will it take for the lower part of the moor to recover and do we need to replant heather to help recover our habitat. A wholly expensive operation not only for the environment but those who helped selflessly to contain the fire and we must all be more vigilant in seeing malcontents causing damage to report it immediately."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Firefighters on Ilkley Moor. Picture: WYFRSFirefighters on Ilkley Moor. Picture: WYFRS

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) is pressing the leader of Bradford Council for the introduction of a bylaw that is "fit for purpose" to ban barbecues on Ilkley Moor.

She said: "Apparently there is one in existence from 1900 which says no fires on moors. The penalty is so low it is deemed pointless - one needs introduction with teeth. Expense of production is a lame excuse when I find that the use of a helicopter alone costs £2k per hour."

She added: "The fire, police and safety services have done a fantastic job. The drone of helicopter above our heads has given something of a comfort feeling to us living in the town.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Firefighters working on Ilkley Moor. Picture: WYFRSFirefighters working on Ilkley Moor. Picture: WYFRS

"This mustn't happen again. It is not only dangerous, immensely expensive but destructive to the moor and wildlife. No doubt expensive rectification work will be needed to comply with SSI status."

* West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that a 19-year-old man has been charged with arson in connection to a fire on Ilkley Moor and two others have been released under investigation.