Fire chief refuses to rule out closing moors to the public

PARTS of the moors could be closed if a wildfire ripping through the area gets worse, the authorities have confirmed.

Seven square miles of scorched moorland are smouldering due to a fire on Saddleworth Moor near Stalybridge which began on Sunday and became a ‘major incident’ when winds blew the flames perilously close to the village of Carrbrook on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of more than 30 householders.

More than 100 firefighters are tackling the blaze, helped by 100 soldiers from the Scots Highlanders who were scrambled from their barracks in north Yorkshire yesterday and three helicopter crews which are picking up water in surrounding reservoirs and dumping it onto the burning moorland.

Fire chiefs said the work to tackle the blaze on Wednesday had helped bringing the fire, being fuelled by burning peat underground, under control.

However, they stressed only a significant downpour would extinguish the fire, which for the moment is simply being contained by a huge moorland operation.

At a press conference yesterday, Asst Chf Fire Officer Tony Hunter confirmed the authorities had considered and would continue to consider whether to close a section of moorland to the public.

He said any decision to close moorland would be based on a ‘partnership approach’ and following consultation with specialist personnel’.

But for the moment he said there was ‘no reason to close it, especially in this lovely weather and at such a lovely location’.