Smoke drifts across the fells from the fire on Joppley How. Photo: Keswick MRT

Firefighters called on the expertise of mountain rescuers to help them during a major blaze on Lake District fells.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service requested the help of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team when they were called to tackle a large grass fire on the slopes of Grange Fell, Brund Fell and Joppelty How in Borrowdale on Wednesday.

A Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “Because of the difficult topography, team members were asked to support fire crews by assisting with local knowledge, logistics and welfare, as well as providing an emergency backup in the event of injury.

“A team member was airlifted by the northern police helicopter to assist is plotting where the fire had spread to, and members on the ground also reported local hotspots.

“Initially the area was reported to be very large, and fire crews from across northern Cumbria were mobilised to assist.”

Seventeen volunteers from the Keswick team were involved in the incident for 3½ hours on the fells, between Grange and Watendlath.