Firefighters battle FOUR moor blazes
CREWS AND SOLDIERS ‘UNDER PRESSURE’
AROUND 300 firefighters and 100 soldiers battled to control four separate moorland fires across Greater Manchester.
As the region’s biggest fire in living memory raged for a sixth day on peat moorland near Tameside crews from across Greater Manchester were joined by firefighters and specialist officers from Northumberland, West Yorkshire, South Wales, Cheshire and Gloucestershire on Friday, with Merseyside on standby.
Soldiers from Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS) were supporting them as they tacked five separate incidents in the massive seven square mile blaze yesterday.
The regiment have been asked to stay until next week after wildfires also broke out Horrocks Moor in Bolton where 50 firefighters tackled a blaze more than a mile long and another near Dobcross in Saddleworth.
More than 80 firefighters, some from Lancashire Fire and Rescue, continued to fight a moorland blaze which started on Thursday afternoon on Winter Hill, north of Bolton, on what fire chiefs described as an ‘extremely challenging’ day.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Leon Parkes, said: “These incidents have put GMFRS under intense pressure and we have had to get support in from Cumbria, Derbyshire and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services to backfill our crews at various stations across Greater Manchester to be available for other incidents as needed.
“GMFRS and North West Fire Control are extremely busy - these are unprecedented circumstances and we would urge the public to only call us in an emergency and to help to prevent any further incidents by taking extra care.”
Crews were called to multiple fires on Horrocks Moor, near to Horrocks Moor Farm, in Bolton, at 2am yesterday.
About 30 firefighters were on the scene throughout the night and appeared to have the blaze under control, so that by yesterday morning just two crews remained dampening down hot spots.
But, due to the intense heat and dry weather, the fire flared up again early in the afternoon meaning 50 firefighters were sent back out with specialist wildfire equipment. At the time of going to press the fire measured more than a mile in length.
And in Dobcross police advised members of the public to avoid the area near Sugar Lane after a blaze broke out there on last night. Health officials say the advice for people living close to the fires remains to stay indoors, keep doors and windows closed while smoke is visible and try to keep homes cool. And fire chiefs also thanked members of the public for their continued support, including food and water donations. ACFO Parkes added: “We’re really grateful to members of the public, the local community and businesses who have been providing refreshments all week. We have been collecting these at Stalybridge Community Fire Station, from where they’re being distributed to crews in various locations by our volunteers.” And it doesn’t appear as if the firefighters will be assisted by the weather any time soon, as the heatwave looks set for another week, according to forecasters. Bonnie Diamond, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “I can’t see any rain in the forecast for the next seven days. The high pressure will continue until at least the middle of next week which means it’s going to stay dry.”
These incidents have put GMFRS under intense pressure Fire chief Leon Parkes