UK landowners told to stop burning moorland after Yorkshire blaze

Firefighters call for halt after fire set in readiness for grouse shooting spread out of control

Landowners have been told to stop burning moorland for grouse shooting after firefighters condemned them for using up valuable emergency resources at a time when the the UK is fighting the coronavirus crisis.

The Moorland Association, an industry body for landowners, said this week landowners must stop any controlled burning. The instruction came after a managed fire in West Yorkshire got out of control and spread into a mile-long fire front.