Strike poses rats danger
A STRIKE by refuse collectors is a “real threat” to life.
Residents have been told a Unite dispute could lead to infestations of salmonella-carrying rats in Birmingham if it continues.
The National Pest Technicians Association said rubbish “encourages rats to leave the sewers”. Flames threaten house RESIDENTS have told how they watched terrified as an “apocalyptic” moorland fire, which broke out after the UK’s hottest winter day on record, threatened their homes.
Tinder-dry heather and grass on moorland in West Yorkshire was set alight, possibly by a discarded cigarette, at around 8pm on Tuesday, the day temperatures hit 21.2C.
The blaze soon became a “wall of fire” stretching two-and-a-half miles.
One witness in Marsden, West Yorks, said: “Imagine what the world would look like when it’s ending – this is what it would look like.”
The fire came within 200 yards of 64-year-old Bernard Thorpe’s home. He said: “As the flames got closer things got scary. There was a wall of fire as far as I could see. The flames were at least 6ft high. The dog was barking his head off and coughing because of the smoke. The fire brigade wanted to evacuate a house about 200 yards from us, so I thought we might be next.
“My wife was a bit scared the house was going to be in trouble but I told her not to worry. We stayed outside watching till about 1.30am until we were sure it wasn’t going to reach the house.
“We have never seen anything like this before in February, it’s very unusual.”
Fire crews worked through the night and after 12 hours got the fire under control yesterday morning.
It was the largest of a number of fires throughout the country, which were sparked by the high winter temperatures.
Fires were also reported on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh and in Ashdown Forest, East Sussex.
The National Trust said the recordbreaking dry February was a factor in the Saddleworth Moor fire. But Bernard said: BERNARD THORPE MOORS RESIDENT Firefighters beat out the flames
The fire brigade wanted to evacuate a house 200 yards away