FIREFIGHTERS are tackling a grass fire at Catstones Moor, near Cullingworth.

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service says four fire engines are at the scene.

The brigade has warned people to take extra care when out and about in the countryside during the current warm, dry spell.

It has had to deal with an unprecedented number of grass fires in the past fortnight.

In a four-day spell alone, crews were called out to tackle more than 430 fires in the open.

And specialist wildfire units, including one based at Keighley, have been helping fight moorland blazes in Lancashire.

Area manager for service delivery, Chris Kirby, said: "We have now had such a long period of sustained sunshine that the vegetation is tinder dry and will burn very rapidly should it come into contact with a heat source such as for example a barbecue.

"Fires like these are not only labour intensive to fight but they also have the potential to spread and pose a risk to property and people.

"The fire severity index is an assessment of how severe a fire could become if one were to start. This is currently mapped at ‘very high’ for England and Wales.

"We cannot stress our fire warning strongly enough and we do need the general public to be more vigilant and take extra care when enjoying the moorlands or the countryside.

"Small embers or sparks from barbecues, or even carelessly discarded cigarettes, can be all it takes to start a small fire which can very quickly become a large fire and the consequences could be devastating."