Moorland around Bolton Abbey is at high risk of fire

The driest March on record has seen firefighters called to 874 incidents across the county - compared to just 173 in 2002.

And the situation is getting worse with crews attending 714 grass fires in the first two weeks of April alone.

David Monks, Head of Fire Safety in West Yorkshire, believes the problem cannot just be attributed to the warm weather.

"Accidents do happen when people are outside and might be careless about discarding their smoking materials," he said

Mr Monks also warned the fire service were being forced to deal with an increasing number of blazes on open land started deliberately.

County breakdown of grass fires Bradford - 149 Calderdale - 114 Kirklees - 128 Leeds - 304 Wakefield - 179

"I ask people who are deliberately setting fire to open land to think about the consequences of their actions.

"Lives are being put at unnecessary risk by these reckless acts."

Areas of moorland are at particular risk from grass fires.

A blaze destroyed two square miles of moorland around Marsden on Sunday.

Fire risk

And the moors surrounding North Yorkshire tourist attraction Bolton Abbey have been forced to close over fears of a fire risk.

Huddersfield Fire Station Commander Geoff Crossley backed his colleague's words of caution.

"Fires that do occur can be extremely rapid and they spread as fast as people can run.

"People must be aware that any fire at all they see must be reported to the fire service."