FARMERS and landowners have been warned that a serial arsonist may be at large, following a spate of fires in the region.

Fire crews from North Yorkshire and Humberside have been called to at least 12 fires involving straw or haystacks around York, Selby and Harrogate in recent weeks, many believed to have been started deliberately.

Tony Walker, blue watch manager at Selby fire station, said: “Some of the incidents could be accidental but there are several which point towards deliberate ignition so it’s possible there’s a serial arsonist in the area.”

The fire service is working with North Yorkshire Police to investigate the blazes.

Watch manager Walker said: “It’s not just the financial cost for the damage but the potential for loss of livestock and loss of life to firefighters as well.

“We managed to save a barn filled with cattle last week, because we were told in time, but if it was more remote or we weren’t alerted in time, it could spread to a farmhouse and the potential for loss of life is very real.”

Detective Constable Amanda Bostwick, of Selby CID, said: “Setting barns full of hay or straw alight is not only illegal, it is extremely foolish and dangerous.

“The fire could easily have spread to other farm buildings, which would have put animals in danger of suffering horrific injuries or even death.”

Mr Walker said: “We’re hoping that local people in rural areas will be twice as vigilant and report anything suspicious to police and also if at all possible, local farmers can move their stacks of straw away from the road so they aren’t easily accessible, and someone can’t just pull up in a car, light it and pull off.

“Also, if they are near a farmhouse or buildings we would ask they could move them to lower the risk of spreading if set alight.”

An spokesman for the National Farmers’ Union said: “Livestock farmers are facing a huge challenge at the moment on the back of the terrible weather experienced in recent months.

“As a result, animal fodder and bedding is already in short supply, so anything that reduces that supply still further leaves those farmers in an almost impossible position.”

Advice is also available to farmers by phoning local fire stations or at northyorksfire.gov.uk.


Fires blamed on the arsonist

• January 23 – Sutton Road, Wigginton. £100,000 of hay bales.

• February 25 – Thorn Hill Farm, Whitby. Hay bales.

• February 28 – York Road, Dunnington. Barn full of straw.

• February 28 – A64, Flaxton. Bales.

• March 10 – Throxenby Lane, Scarborough. Hay bales.

• March 29 – Market Weighton Road, Barlby. Straw bales.

• March 29 – Selby Road, Riccall. Hay bales.

• April 7 – Throxenby Lane, Scarborough. Hay bales.

• April 9 – Plantation House Farm, North Duffield. Major barn fire.

• April 13 - Whitefield Lane, Whitley. 200 bales of straw.