Fire - Hob Moor Reserve

Appeal for Information Following Suspected Arson at Hob Moor Nature Reserve, York

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for information following a suspected arson incident at Hob Moor Nature Reserve, York, this afternoon.

At approximately 3.30pm today, Sunday 19 July 2026, emergency services responded to reports of a significant grass fire on Hob Moor. Fire crews from York and Acomb attended the scene and, upon arrival, requested additional assistance from Selby due to the scale of the incident.

The fire affected an area of approximately 200 metres by 300 metres of grassland. Firefighters have been using beaters, knapsack sprayers and hose reel jets to tackle the blaze. The incident remains ongoing at this time.

We are asking anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area prior to the fire starting, or who may have captured footage on mobile phones, dashcams, CCTV or doorbell cameras, to come forward.

If you have any information that could assist the investigation, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and quote reference 122260137763.

Fire Safety Reminder

With the current warm and dry weather conditions, grassland and moorland fires can spread extremely quickly, causing significant damage to wildlife habitats, the environment and nearby property. Please help reduce the risk by disposing of smoking materials responsibly, avoiding the use of disposable barbecues in open spaces, taking litter home with you and reporting any signs of fire immediately by calling 999. Even small flames can rapidly develop into large incidents during periods of dry weather.

Thank you for your assistance.