ARSONISTS are believed to have started a massive rubbish fire that blanketed a large area of York with smoke last night.

Tons of household waste went up in flames shortly after 7pm at Martins of York rubbish depot in Outgang Lane Industrial Estate, Osbaldwick. The site was closed at the time.

It was the last blaze for long-serving firefighter Bob Elliff, 51, who retired at the end of the night shift after 30 years in the service. “I had an inkling we would have something,” he said.

“All the other watches have been busy this week – our particular shifts have been very quiet. It was only a matter of time before we got a call.”

The two engine crews of Green Watch from York Station under crew manager Kev Caulfield, brought the fire under control shortly after they arrived, then, with the help of a mechanical digger, spread out the huge pile of rubbish and debris to make sure that every smouldering or burning item was extinguished. It was not believed that the rubbish dump contained any toxic chemicals. Firefighters understood most of it had been dumped by people who had done DIY work over the Bank Holiday weekend. “It is a rubbish fire,” said Mr Elliff, the most experienced man on the watch. “Many fires are not very glamorous, but they take lots of man-hours and a lot of time and effort to put out.”

He was hoping that the fire would save him from the traditional firefighters’ farewell to a retiring colleague – pouring water over him.

He said his biggest call-out was to rescue passengers who survived but were trapped in the GNER train derailed by Gary Hart’s Land Rover in the Great Heck rail crash.

He will miss his fellow watch members when their next tour of duty begins, but is already planning a new life in Spain with his wife. They have four children and five grandchildren.