Firefighters spent the night tackling a large blaze at a scrap yard on Bootham Lane in Hatfield after emergency calls on the afternoon of Saturday 1 August.
Heavy smoke seen for miles as crews battled the fire
Witnesses reported thick plumes of black smoke rising from the industrial estate and visible for miles around. At the height of the response, the incident required the attendance of nine fire engines and a Command Support Unit, while police closed roads and people living nearby were advised to keep doors and windows closed.
Services remained on scene overnight and the fire service this morning praised the effort of crews and control staff. The response was supported by other agencies, keeping the incident under close multi‑agency management.
"Well done to all our firefighters, officers and Control room staff for their response to this very significant fire."
Who attended and what residents were told
- South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue led the firefighting operation.
- West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue provided mutual aid.
- South Yorkshire Police assisted with road closures and public safety.
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service was also present to support the emergency response.
The emergency update emphasised the scale of the incident, describing it as a "very significant fire" and thanking all staff involved in the response.
| Detail | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Number of fire engines | 9 |
| Specialist unit on scene | Command Support Unit |
| Other agencies | South Yorkshire Police; Yorkshire Ambulance Service; West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue |
What this means for local people
Residents in the immediate area were asked to stay away from the scene while crews worked and to keep windows and doors closed to limit smoke ingress. If you live near Bootham Lane and are affected by smoke, consider staying indoors until services announce the situation is clear and follow any directions from emergency services.
InfoRadar will continue to monitor updates from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue and partner agencies and will publish any safety notices or road‑closure information as it becomes available.
