THIRTY FIVE firefighters are today still at the scene of a moorland fire in Cullingworth.

The blaze started on Sunday afternoon and is on heathland between Harden and Cullingworth, known as Catstones Moor, according to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS).

Keighley Road between The Guide Inn and Cullingworth is still closed this morning due to the fire. People are asked to avoid the area to allow emergency services access.

Twelve fire engines were at the scene on Sunday and seven are there today dealing with small pockets of fire, but conditions are more favourable with temperatures dropping and the wind dying down.

WYFRS said that, at its peak, more than 50 firefighters were working on the blaze under extreme heat conditions and the NPAS Police Helicopter assissted by identifying hotspots on the moor.

People have been able to see the blaze from as far as Wrose and even Leeds Bradford Airport.

The blaze was brought under control on Sunday night before it took hold again in the early hours of Monday.

Lee Sutcliffe, of the nearby Cow House Farm, said firefighters had control again and he could not see any more flames.

He added: "It started going again in the night, from about 2am, but there's nothing left to burn now and it's smouldering.

"We've had the fire brigade here because this must be the closest place they can get water from.

"We've brought all the livestock inside - horses, sheep and some cattle -because of the smoke.

"They are in the next field, but the wind has been blowing away from us."

Fearne Grist said at the start of the fire: "The flames are spreading bad."

Sulley Baynham said: "It's now spreading across and lighting the woodland, so potentially could become alot bigger especially as it nears the St Ives woodland estate.

He added: "There's limited access for fire crews due to the location."

Olivia Kent, 41, of Wilsden said: "The last time I saw Catstones Moor on fire must’ve been the early 80s. I do remember it well as my grandad and I walked on the moor regularly when I was a tot."

She added: "It’s now 5pm and we can smell the smoke across in Wilsden. I sincerely hope the firefighters can put this to bed swiftly."

Paul Hannon, from Cullingworth, took his camera to the scene to capture shots of the blaze.

He said: "We were attending the Cullingworth Gala and I was sat with a pint in my hand when I saw the fire on the moor, about a mile away.

"I saw the flames coming up and they were quite substantial.

"Before I could do anything there was an announcement over the tannoy to say the emergency services were on their way.

"When I got there it was quite intense.

"I've never been that close to anything on that scale before.

"It was quite an experience and makes you realise what kind of job they have to do and how easy it is for something like that to happen."

Jayne Coates said: "The fire is right at the back of the fields where we keep our horse, all horses safe and stabled but smoke is bad.

"It’s scary, we could hear it crackling from the yard."

But, some are now optimistic that fire crews are getting the blaze under control.

Tom Rathmell said: "Crews are battling the fire from all sides it seems to be settling compared to how it was spreading - the woodland seems to have slowed it down massively."

Amy Land, 32, of Cullingworth added: "It looks like most of the flames are out now and just smoke. It's definitely calmed down compared to how it was.

"Firefighters acted fast and have done a great job."

Two fire engines from Skipton and Grassington were called in to assist crews from West Yorkshire Fire and Recue Service that were already at the scene.

Although the emergency service is yet to investigate the cause of the fire, officers are warning moorland visitors to take care and to avoid having barbecues.

More to follow...