Soldiers deployed to help fight wildfire in England

LONDON: A hundred soldiers and a military helicopter yesterday joined firefighters battling a rare wildfire in northern England that could burn for weeks amid sustained hot weather, officials said.

The troops doubled the number of responders tackling the blaze on Saddleworth Moor east of Manchester, which broke out Sunday and led to the temporary evacuation of dozens of homes.

The fire, now covering 18 sq kms and being fuelled by peat, could spread if winds change direction, firefighters warned.

“We can see this being prolonged for days, if not weeks,” said Tony Hunter, an assistant fire chief, noting controlling the blaze was “dependent on a downpour of rain”.

He added: “If there is a change in wind to the opposite direction, it is a completely different picture then in terms of the fuel available to this fire.”

No rain is forecast for the area for the rest of the week at least.

More than 100 firefighters have been working rolling 12-hour shifts to try to bring the wildfire, which is burning in six different locations, under control.

Firefighters worked until dusk Wednesday but suspended their efforts after deciding it was too dangerous to continue through the night. An assessment at first light yesterday showed there was no “significant increase”, Hunter added.

The soldiers will manage water lines, carry out fire beating and provide general support following a request for help from Manchester fire service. — AFP