Major incident declared as wildfire advances through unexploded ordnance zone near RAF Fylingdales, North Yorkshire

The Langdale Moor wildfire was declared a major incident on August 13, following its ignition near RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, England, at approximately 18:30 LT on August 11.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS), the fire has spread across approximately 5 km² (1.93 mi²) of moorland terrain, while the cause remains unknown. At the height of operations on August 13, around 20 fire engines were deployed, supported by specialist wildfire units including Argocats and personnel from three counties.

As of August 14, around 11 fire engines, a high-volume pump, and Argocats remained at the scene, assisted by crews from local emergency services.

The fire area includes a former military training zone containing unexploded ordnance, presenting an additional operational hazard. The presence of munitions, combined with the fire’s rapid spread across peatland terrain and the need for extensive multi-agency coordination, led authorities to designate the incident as major.

Langdale Moor borders RAF Fylingdales, a ballistic missile early warning facility operated by the UK Ministry of Defence. While the site has not been directly impacted, emergency services continue to monitor fire movement closely.

In a joint statement, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime urged the public to avoid the area while emergency operations continued. No injuries or evacuations had been reported as of August 14.

Peatland conditions and dry weather were likely factors contributing to the fire’s intensity and spread. Langdale Moor is part of the broader Langdale Forest area, known for being fire-prone during warm, dry periods.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has suspended steam locomotive services and is operating diesel engines as a precaution. Planned “Tornado” steam services, scheduled for August 15–17, have been postponed.

“Crews remain at the scene and are likely to be there for the next few days. The fire is deep-seated in peat,” said NYFRS in their 14:30 local time (LT) update on August 14.

“Crews are operating on the perimeter to tackle the fire and are being supported by neighboring services and a helicopter assisting with water drops,” the NYFRS added.

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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