A nature reserve in York has recently become the target of a series of suspected deliberately set fires.
St Nicks, off Hull Road, has seen a sharp increase in call-outs to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The service confirmed to YorkMix that they had responded to six incidents at the 24-acre field since the start of May.
A service spokesperson told YorkMix this location has become particularly problematic: “We have attended six fires at St Nicolas Fields since the start of May 2025.
“We are working with the police locally as it is believed a number of these fires have been started deliberately.”
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “We are working closely with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to establish the full circumstances surrounding some suspected deliberate fires at St Nick’s Fields between 1 and 5 May 2025, and to prevent any further issues.”
Setting fires is even more dangerous at the moment, when the ground is tinder dry after weeks of no rainfall.
A fire crew spokesperson added: “We would like to remind people that even small fires can spread quickly and become out of control, especially during prolonged periods of warm weather when the ground and vegetation is very dry.
“They also tie up fire service resources meaning they’re not available to attend other emergency incidents.”
The most recent call out for North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service came on Bank Holiday Monday (5 May) at 6.12pm.
A crew from York responded to the deliberate blaze, which measured 3m x 3m and consisted of burning wood and branches.
The other call outs are as follows:
- 1 May – 6:02 pm
- 1 May – 7:38 pm
- 1 May – 8:31 pm
- 3 May – 4.14 pm
- 5 May – 11:39 pm
Residents’ concerns
Speaking to local residents, one man said that by allowing the green waste from the area to biodegrade is probably what’s tempting the fire starters.
“Although it’s good for the environment and the eco-system, they used to get rid of the chopped branches and waste, now it’s left in piles to decompose.”
He told YorkMix the piles of flammable shrub are probably far to appealing for teenagers who have potentially “had a few cans.”
One woman who regularly walks the route said that the fires are a huge shame for the local community.
She believes that by understanding what’s troubling these young people enough to lead them to carry out such incidents is the only way to address the problem.
“Some of these kids will just be going along with it to fit in, but we need to find out why the perpetrators feel the need to do it in the first place,” she told YorkMix.
“As there’s no CCTV in the area it will be hard to find out who it is, but parents definitely need to be involved.”
A local worker said they’d witnessed a few young people discussing the fires, but they were also unsure of the culprits were.
Another resident, who was unaware of the fires at St Nicholas Fields, told YorkMix that she’d noticed an increase in fireworks recently.
Site sweeps
St Nicks, the charity that maintains and manages the green space, has been forced to carry out extra “site sweeps” by staff and volunteers since the incidents.
Vicky Blakey-Archer, CEO of St Nicks, said: “Because we’ve got a public space open 24/7 with multiple access points, it’s very hard for us to pinpoint any cause – but we suspect the majority of them are anti-social behaviour.
“We’ve seen several of the habitat piles being burned recently. Although we’re not in hibernation season at the minute, we do have invertebrates and small mammals using those piles, so there is a risk to wildlife.”
The charity not only manages the nature reserve, but also collects recycling, carries out waste audits, and runs educational and mental health support services.
Ms Blakey-Archer noted that time spent clearing up after antisocial behaviour could be better used for activities that benefit the community.
Liberal Democrat activist Andrew Mortimer, who also chairs Friends of Hull Road Park, said that despite the rise, fires in the area are not a new issue.
“Unfortunately they have been going on for years and do cause problems for local residents who I have spoken with,” he told YorkMix.
St Nicks recently received a grant from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s Office to support work with local teenagers.
Ms Blakey-Archer said she hopes that by encouraging young people to appreciate the benefits of nature could reduce the number of fires.
“More than anything, it’s applying a level of common sense so it’s an enjoyable space for everybody.
“Just be respectful of the space, be respectful of yourself and of others.”