FIREFIGHTERS tackled fires across North Yorkshire as dry weather hit the county.

According to Yorkshire Water, parts of Yorkshire had seen the lowest rainfall since their records began over 130 years ago, as temperatures rose to 30C across the area.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) took the decision on Thursday (August 11) to stop all steam services until further notice as passing trains sparked lineside fires in Grosmont and Goathland.

Crews were also called to several farm fires across North Yorkshire.

On Friday (August 12) crews attended to two combine harvesters on fire.

Firefighters from Malton, Acomb and Tadcaster responded to a combine harvester on fire, which had spread to a standing corn field on Main Street in Thixendale at 3.32pm.

The fire measured approximately 200 square metres and was extinguished by the firefighters with the help of the farmer.

Shortly afterwards crews from Pickering and Selby were called to another combine harvester on fire, which had spread to a surrounding field at Sittenham Hill in Bulmer at 3.59pm.

Crews extinguished this fire using two breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets and thermal imaging camera.

Later that night firefighters from Scarborough were out at a tractor on fire pulling a trailer full of straw bales on Main Street in East Ayton at 5.42pm.

The crew extinguished the fire to the tractor using a hose reel jet and the trailer of straw was not affected.

On Saturday (August 13), firefighters attended to two balter fires in North Yorkshire.

Crews from Malton, Kirkbymoorside, Helmsley and Thirsk responded the call, along with the incident command unit from Northallerton and  a water bowser from Tadcaster, responded to a baler and field fire near Oswaldkirk at 4.19pm

A spokesperson for Malton Fire Station said: “Crews used hose reels, 45mm jets, nap sack sprayers, beaters and the helpful assistance from local farmers the fire was extinguished.”

Shortly after returning, Malton crews were back out with Pickering crews at a separate report of a baler on fire in Riseborough at 6.55pm.

The crews extinguished the fire using two hose reel jets and breathing apparatus, and the cause was believed to have been an electrical fault.

Yesterday (August 14), appliances from Ripon and Thirsk attended a combine harvester and crop fire measuring 10 square metres in Ampleforth at 6.03pm.

A spokesperson for the service said the fires were extinguished by the farmer and firefighters.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service issued advice to stay safe during the dry weather.

This includes ensuring farm machinery is kept in good working order and fitted with the appropriate filters; regularly checking straw and haybales for overheating; safely disposing of cigarette and glass items; and not using disposable barbeques anywhere near farmland and crops.