Blaze attended by 66 firefighters thought to have been caused by 'child playing with fire'

On April 21 a blaze at Heights Farm in Silsden led to a huge response from emergency services.

The fire, in a 40 by 40 metre building, has been included in a report by West Yorkshire Fire Authority into incidents over the three month period between April and July that required the biggest response.

The report reveals that 10 fire engines and 66 fire fighters were mobilised to the area to tackle the fire - meaning it had the joint biggest response of any fire in that three month period.

At its height, the fire was being dealt with by crews from Bingley, Hunslet, Illingworth, Shipley, Bradford and Skipton. A high-volume pump and double hose box were also mobilised from Fairweather Green with support from Stanningley and Cookridge.

Huge emergency response as barn fire breaks out in Silsden

Support appliances sent to the scene included a personnel welfare unit from Skelmanthorpe, the hose laying unit from Otley with support from Otley and Mirfield, the command unit and assistants from Featherstone and a drone from the fire service headquarters.

The report adds: "It was ascertained that the most likely cause of this fire was a child playing with fire."

The only other incident of that scale over the three month period is also thought to have been caused by someone playing with fire.

A moorland fire on Chain Road, Slaithwaite on April 6 also saw 10 engines from as far as Bradford and 66 firefighters deployed.

On that fire - the report adds: "It was ascertained that the most likely cause for this fire was an unknown person playing with fire or heat source."