The extent of the blaze
The new planted area. The fire ended up at the bottom of this gulley
Plantation alight by the Giants Tooth
Spreading in all directions
Water from Ogden reservoir seemed a small amount
Soil Hill pm visit. Saw the smoke this afternoon and thought that it was the wind turbine area again but this was much more serious. The top of Ogden Moor and part of the plantation were well alight with no access for the fire engines. Firefighters had almost got the fire surrounded and were beating the flames but the wind was just too strong spreading the fire in all directions. A helicopter was scooping water from the reservoir and dropping it on the fire near to the plantation but the size of the area made the helicopter look like a toy.
At one point I watched the flames move across a stretch of moor through my bins moving at the same speed that I would scan a bird flying past.
Well done to the brave lads of the West Yorkshire fire service who must be completely knackered by now. We all know how hard it is to walk over moorland and heather, and then to have to use a beater in the howling wind with choking smoke. A big thankyou on behalf of all birders. Roll on rainfalls.
Still no Dotterel report for the grapevine from Soil Hill yet but just be patient. In fact the hill was deadly quiet as well as the skies probably due to the icy cold E>6 but I can,t grumble after this mornings session at Fly Flatts.
BS
