Firefighters have dealt with a lare grass fire that broke out in Gateshead this afternoon (Wednesday, August 10).
It happened at the Ryton Willows Nature Reserve and massive plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the site.
The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said it had received 'a large number of calls' from concerned members of the public about the blaze and dozens of firefighters were sent to deal with it.
They got the fire under control shortly after 6pm.
The fire was one of several that broke out across the region today as the current dry spell dramatically heightens the risk.
Earlier this afternoon 20 firefighters dealt with a grassland blaze at Pelton in County Durham.
A fire also broke out near the Tesco in Northallerton and crews from Ripon, Knaresborough, Tadcaster and Wetherby responded to a report of a baling machine on fire in a field in Aldborough, Boroughbridge just before lunchtime.
The fire spread from the baler to the stubble field measuring approximately ten acres.
Read more: See the unbelievable scenes as major road flooded leaving some cars ‘stranded’
A combine harvester also caught fire in a field in Markington, Ripon and crews from Harrogate and Ripon responded.
The fire, which caused significant damage to the combine harvester, spread to approximately 50 – 100sqm of a stubble field.
At 1.30pm crews from Stokesley and Northallerton along with the Argocat from Kirkbymoorside responded to a report of smoke seen coming from a wooded area.
Crews located a fire measuring approximately 10m x 15m which they extinguished using four back pack sprayers and small tools.
At around 2.30pm crews from Richmond, Colburn and Darlington responded to a report of a fire to a combine harvester.
The fire spread from the combine to approximately 800x800m and firefighters extinguished it with assistance from farmers using ploughs to create a fire break.
Crews dampened down the hotspots and gave advice.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service also dealt with blazes in fields in Hutton Rudby and Selby.
Read next:
- We spent the day at Redcar beach on one of the hottest days this week
- Darlington confirms it WILL bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023
- The iconic landmark getting a fresh lick of paint - and you've probably driven past it
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here