Firefighters have confirmed that a substantial grass fire close to the Waverley development in Rotherham was extinguished late on Friday night after crews worked at the scene through the evening.
Crews tackled fast-moving blaze visible across the town
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue deployed multiple appliances to the incident, with crews leaving the location at about 10.30pm. Dramatic images and video shared by local people showed flames and smoke that could be seen as far away as Kimberworth.
The fire service said it had received numerous repeat 999 calls about the blaze and reassured residents that resources were in attendance.
“We are getting lots of repeat 999 calls for a grass fire in Waverley, Rotherham. Please be assured we know about the incident and we have five fire engines in attendance.”
Part of a series of recent blazes across South Yorkshire
The Waverley fire came as crews were already attending other vegetation fires in the wider area, including a woodland incident in Beighton that produced large plumes of smoke seen across Sheffield and Rotherham, and a separate grass blaze on Penrith Road, Shirecliffe, Sheffield.
Firefighters warned that prolonged warm, dry weather has left grass and undergrowth tinder-dry, increasing the risk of rapid fire spread and placing pressure on emergency resources.
- Location: Land near the Waverley development, Rotherham
- Appliances on scene: Five fire engines (reported)
- Scene cleared: Around 10.30pm on Friday
| Incident | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Waverley grass fire | Rotherham | Grass fire (extinguished) |
| Woodland blaze | Beighton (near Rother Valley) | Woodland fire |
| Penrith Road | Shirecliffe, Sheffield | Grass fire |
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue reiterated public-safety advice issued earlier in the week, asking people to avoid actions that could start fires and to report any wildfires by calling 999. The service highlighted the heightened risk from garden bonfires, disposable barbecues and discarded smoking materials.
For residents in and around Rotherham, practical steps to reduce risk include:
- Not using disposable barbecues in parks, moorland or other open spaces
- Avoiding garden bonfires while dry conditions persist
- Clearing combustible material from close to buildings and outbuildings
- Calling 999 immediately if you spot an uncontrolled fire
The spate of recent incidents underlines how quickly small sparks can escalate when vegetation is dry. Local authorities and the emergency services continue to monitor conditions as the heatwave persists.
