Four teenagers have been arrested following an alleged arson attack that destroyed crops on land close to Askham Lane, York, leaving an estimated £30,000 of damage.
Incident and response
North Yorkshire Police say the blaze began at about 3.30pm on Sunday 12 July and was thought to have been started using a lighter before it spread rapidly across the field. The fire affected land owned by farmer Russell Wagstaff in the Woodthorpe area, forcing immediate action from emergency services and local people to prevent further harm.
Officers arrested four youngsters on Friday 17 July — described by the force as four 14-year-olds, two boys and two girls — in connection with the suspected arson. Police have said they are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.
“I want to recognise Jay and Cameron, who acted quickly and courageously before the arrival of the fire service by creating a firebreak that helped prevent the fire from spreading further,”
The praise from Sgt Ambler of the York Outer Neighbourhood Policing Team extended to colleagues at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and to members of the local community who assisted. Two farm workers named Jay and Cameron were singled out for racing to disc the field and create a firebreak, an action credited with preventing the blaze reaching nearby homes in Woodthorpe.
Ongoing inquiries and related incidents
Police say two teenage girls aged 15 and 17 who had been arrested earlier in relation to the fire are no longer being treated as suspects for this particular incident. However, both remain under investigation for a separate arson reported later on 12 July, the force confirmed.
- Date of fire: Sunday 12 July, around 3.30pm
- Location: fields close to Askham Lane, Woodthorpe
- Estimated damage: £30,000
- Arrests: four 14-year-olds (two boys, two girls) on 17 July
Following the blaze, Russell Wagstaff and members of the Wagstaff Farm crew were reported to be back in the affected field with combine harvesters preparing for a planned September planting, after crops were ruined in the fire.
Local impact and next steps
The incident highlights the vulnerability of agricultural land to deliberate ignition and the speed with which such fires can spread. While emergency services and local helpers limited the damage to agricultural property and prevented a worse outcome for nearby housing, the loss of crops represents a significant economic hit for the farm and may have knock-on effects for harvest planning.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Estimated damage | £30,000 |
| Initial ignition cause | Believed to be a lighter |
| Arrests | Four 14-year-olds (two boys, two girls) – detained 17 July |
North Yorkshire Police continue to investigate both the alleged arson at Wagstaff’s fields and the separate arson reported later on 12 July. The local community and agencies have been commended for their fast response; police say enquiries remain ongoing.
