Wildlife killed in moor fire
RANGERS DISCOVER REMAINS OF EGGS AT NESTING GROUNDS AFTER BLAZE
SEVERAL animals have been killed in a wildfire near Black Moss reservoir that destroyed nesting grounds and eggs.
Fire crews were called to Mount Road, near Saddleworth, as a moorland blaze with a 100m fire front approached the south bank of the reservoir on Wednesday.
Four crews used blowers, beaters, backpacks, and argocat to extinguish the 500sq metre fire.
Volunteers and crews from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were out again across the land this morning dampening down the area, as several “hot pockets” remained across the moorland.
Craig Best, countryside manager for the National Trust, who runs the Marsden Moor site, confirmed that several nests had been destroyed, and some animals had died.
He said: “These moors are so important for nature and it’s essential we protect them.
“Not only is it important to protect the landscape and the many hundreds of thousands of pounds we have spent on moorland restoration, but this land is home to a huge variety of wildlife too.
“Sadly the area of yesterday’s fire was in an area popular with ground nesting birds. This morning, rangers and volunteers found destroyed nests along with burnt remains of eggs and other animals that could not escape the flames.
“It is hugely important that people are aware of the risk of fires on the moorland.
“The land is already susceptible to fire, and in spite of the recent bad weather the upland areas are still extremely dry and vulnerable.
“Using BBQs or lighting fires can result in a massive amount of damage. With the help of our partners, we are working hard to restore the fire damage and implement a range of measures to reduce fire risk in the future.”
The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed. Rangers, volunteers and the fire service remain on scene. Despite the cold and frosty weather over the last few days, the moorland is still very dry and susceptible to fires.
At the end of last month, Mr Best asked people to bring picnics to the area, instead of barbecues.
Marsden Moor was struck by a fire in April 2019 when a barbecue set 700 hectares of the moor alight for four days, causing around £500,000 of damage.
In addition to the damage costs and disruption to people nearby, moorland fires can have a devastating impact on the environment, destroying the food and nesting sites of many birds and animals, as well as releasing carbon into the atmosphere and harming the fight against climate change.
Fires and BBQs are banned on the moors all year round, with anyone found lighting a fire facing a fine of up to £1,000.