Fundraiser for Langdale Moor fire raised more than £77,000

A fundraiser to help those who fought the Langdale Moor fire has exceeded £77,000 <i>(Image: NYFRS/THE NORTHERN ECHO)</i>
A fundraiser to help those who fought the Langdale Moor fire has exceeded £77,000 (Image: NYFRS/THE NORTHERN ECHO)
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A fundraiser to support the firefighters, farmers and gamekeepers who battled a huge moorland blaze has raised more than £77,000.

The JustGiving page, set up by Amy Cockrem, was formed to help those fighting the wildfire in the North York Moors National Park.

"I like helping the community, and I wanted to help, so I thought I'd set a target of £100 and see what I can get," Amy, from Egton, said.

"It was just so we could afford to go out and buy food and things for the fire service and farmers, then it went crazy. We've massively exceeded our target now.

"We've used some of the money on the fuel bills for the farmers to help them afford going back and forth. We had two waggon loads of hay delivered to farmers affected, and at the minute we're figuring out where the rest of the money will be spent."

Langdale Moor fire(Image: North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service)

Crews from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS) battled the fire, which covered about 25 square km, on Langdale Moor between Whitby and Scarborough, for more than 40 days.

The service announced on September 23 that the blaze had been successfully contained and was no longer a major incident.

Local farmers and gamekeepers offered extensive amounts of help to perform tasks such as hauling huge tankers of water to the scene via tractors.

As previously reported, officials and community members shared their thanks to the fire service and farmers amid height of the blaze.

Amy added: "It was awful. I look back at the devastation caused now and I think of the fire crew and the farmers. The farmers just went out there without being asked and risked their lives. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about what they went through.

"The sheer fact that they went out there just to help, it's amazing. I just did this to help them out, and for it to get where it has so we're able to really help the farmers and donate it, is great. I did it for them, they deserve all the credit."

Langdale Moor fire(Image: North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service)

It is currently predicted that it could take 'many decades, centuries or even thousands of years' for the area to recover from the harsh impact.

Helpers, alongside members of the public and fire crews, are set to gather in Whitby on Saturday, October 18, in a designated Tractor Run, also organised by Amy.

Residents and visitors from across the area are being encouraged to join in the event to applaud the 'heroes' who helped control the disaster.

A convoy of tractors(Image: STUART BOULTON)

Participants will gather at Whitby Marina from 9.30am for a planned start time of 11am.

The convoy will then travel along the seafront and up to Whitby's West Cliff, before turning toward Ruswarp.

They will continue towards the Flask Inn, where the blaze hit the area rather fiercely, to gather between 3pm and 3.30pm before heading back to Whitby for the finish at Hawsker Village Hall for around 4.45pm.

For more details of the route, or to get in touch, visit the Moorland Fire Tractor Run Facebook page.

Amy said: "We clapped for the NHS in Covid, and I thought those guys were out there risking their lives and I felt they deserved an applause too. We've charged £10 per tractor so they can each get a hog roast sandwich at the end and have a bit of a get together.

"It works out at around a 40 mile round trip, once we've been through all the villages. We've got quite a few tractors and tankers coming, so I thought we could get the fire fighters to come as well. We're hoping quite a few come."

An investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing, according to NYFRS.

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