Picture1

Detonation of WWII-era Ordnance Hampers Efforts to Contain Wildfires

Picture1

(David Baird, image in the public domain)

More than 18No. buried WWII-era shells have been detonated by wildfires which continue to burn on Fylingdales Moor, in North Yorkshire, hampering the efforts of fire crews to contain the blaze.

See: North Yorkshire Langdale moor fire fighters face exploding WWII ordinance – BBC News

A Practical Training Area (PTA ) was established on Fylingdales Moor after 1940, used for infantry and armoured vehicle training during WWII, and continuing in use into the 1960s.

Picture2

Above: Impact areas from live training on Fylingdales Moor, 1946 (Historic England)

Multiple post-WWII clearance operations removed several thousand items of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) from the moor, but UXO finds are still common.

If you would like to enquire about a UXO risk assessment, contact us on UXO@zetica.com.