Royal Park Road fire: Live updates as Leeds firefighters tackle Hyde Park playground blaze
and live on Freeview channel 276
Emergency services are at the scene of the fire, which is believed to have broken out at the Royal Park Road playground in the Hyde Park area of the city. Local residents have begun sharing pictures of the blaze.
Follow our live blog below and refresh the page for the latest updates on this breaking incident...
Live: Firefighters tackle Hyde Park playground blaze
Emergency services at the scene
Emergency services from across Leeds have responded to the blaze, located at the new Royal Park Road playground in Hyde Park.
Firefighters quick to respond
Firefighters were quick on the scene as smoke could be seen billowing out of the play area.
Playground fenced off
Local residents have praised the quick response of firefighters after 999 calls. The fire was successfully put out with the park gated off.
‘It was like an alien invasion'
Two local residents, who raised the alarm, described the speed that the fire took hold as being “like an alien invasion.”
They said: There was nobody on the park (its been fenced off) so must have been caused by the heat reflecting off the inside of the amstel wheel. The tarmac around the play thing went up and tarmac on the ground.”
Adding: “It went up really fast. It looked like a fairground or a portal that aliens come through.’I wouldn’t have that on a play area. It was scary how quick it set alight.”
Fire service approached for comment
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and West Yorkshire Police have both been approached for comment.
West Yorkshire Fire statement
A spokesperson from West Yorkshire Fire Rescue Services said:
“ We received a call from a member of the public at 13:15 regarding a fire at the Royal Park Road playground in Hyde Park. Two crews from Hunslet were dispatched and got on the scene within around 5 minutes (13:21). The fire was put out by 14:04.”