Fire at Bilsdale transmitting centre
Update 07/09/2021
Investigations into the cause of the fire are currently on-going, but it is not believed to have been started deliberately at this time.
Updated 16/08/2021
The exclusion zone at the site remain in place until the site operator can confirm that the tower is structurally secure.
We are unable to begin our investigation into the cause of the fire until the exclusion zone is removed and we can gain access to the site.
Once the fire investigation starts it is likely to take at least a few weeks.
Updated 11/08/2021
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire at the Bilsdale transmitting centre yesterday (10/8).
The area around the site remains secure with a 300m exclusion zone still in place until the site operator can confirm that the tower is structurally secure.
When the site is safe North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service will return for a closer examination. This will allow us to positively confirm that the fire has been extinguished and to begin the process of investigating the cause of the fire.
At this time there is nothing to suggest that the first is the result of any criminal activity but this cannot be confirmed until a closer examination has been carried out.
We continue to work with the site operator Arqiva to ensure the safely of all those involved in the investigation operation.
Published 10/08/2021
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire at the Bilsdale transmitting centre this afternoon, 10 August 2021.
The initial call came at 13:19 from an engineer working at the transmitter, stating that he believed the mast was on fire due to smoke coming from below the first stay level (approximately 50 – 60 metres up). Calls were also received from members of the public who could see the smoke from some distance.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service worked to control the fire in difficult circumstances and extinguished a fire in a single-storey stone building and a 315ft transmitter mast. Only one building in a complex of four was affected and there are concerns about the structural integrity of the mast.
A 300m exclusion zone has been put in place around the mast.
Eight pumps from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident and firefighting has now ceased until the site has been confirmed as safe for further work.
The incident was attended by crews from Helmsley, Malton, Thirsk, Danby, Coulby Newham, Ripon, Northallerton and Acomb in addition to mobile water bowsers from Tadcaster and Boroughbridge.
NYFRS will be working on site tomorrow with Arqiva, the site operators, to bring the incident to safe conclusion.
