House destroyed after grass fire started by youths on Sheffield park spreads
An arson investigation is underway
A grass fire reportedly started by youths on a dried-out Sheffield park spread and destroyed a house.
Firefighters were called to the home on Harthill Road, Woodthorpe, after a blaze broke out at around 1.40pm on Wednesday (August 6).
Photos captured smoke billowing as flames engulfed the roof of the home.
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South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has now confirmed the fire was started by youths starting grass fires on the nearby Woodthorpe Ravine.
The flames burned out of control on the dried out park before spreading to a hedge and a nearby’s home’s guttering.
Several nearby houses were evacuated before the fire was brought under control.
A witness told The Star: “Some teens have been spotted setting the fields on fire over the past few weeks. They did it again today and it’s ended up running up the hill, catching on the bush, onto shed and up the guttering and into the house.
”Police were about taking statements when I took my dog for a walk.”
A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “At 1.50pm yesterday (August 5) we were alerted to a fire on Harthill Road, in Sheffield, by the fire service.
“It is reported that a fire was deliberately started on a patch of grass by a small group of youths. It is further reported that the blaze spread to a nearby house.
“Officers attended and supported the fire service with evacuating nearby properties.
“An arson investigation has been launched and our officers are conducting enquiries into the incident.”
It is among a number of fires to have hit the city’s green spaces recently, but few have had such disastrous consequences.
There have been fires in Graves Park, on a green space next to Wensley Street in Wincobank, as well as in Grenoside Woods and woods in Hackenthorpe.
A significant fire broke out at the old ski village site in the city on Wednesday, August 5.
Most parts of England and Wales are now at very high or exceptional risk of wildfires becoming severe, according to a Met Office fire severity index.
The index evaluates the probable severity of a wildfire in England and Wales should one break out.