hundreds battle fearsome flames
almost 350 firefighter and armed forces continue to battle huge wildfires engulfing moorland in greater manchester.
by yesterday around 150 firefighters used 29 engines worked tirelessly to try to control the blaze on Winter hill, in bolton, with many beating the flames for hours on end.
crews had been forced to withdraw on saturday after two separate fires on either side of the hill dramatically converged creating a giant inferno which is now 8km long.
the smoke from the fire can be seen for miles around.
in total up to 500 firefighters have tackled the fire in shifts around the clock, many already exhausted having come from the blaze on saddleworth moor. they have worked in horrendous conditions as the heatwave continueswith some retained staff working 22-hour shifts only leaving to go home and sleep briefly, before returning to the inferno.
meanwhile, another 90 firefighters and 100 soldiers spent a seventh day fighting the flames on saddleworth near mossley, in tameside.
crews from tyne and Wear, Warwickshire, north Wales and nottinghamshire, to name just a few, are helping fight both the bolton and saddleworth moor fires along with soldiers from 4 scots. Police and mountain rescue volunteers have also been a constant presence at both blazes, while the fire service has praised united utilities for all its support.
helicopters have made repeated attempts to douse the fire from the air, dropping gallons of water on the hill from above but the task they face is huge.
the firefighters’ work is back breaking and often incredibly frustrating.
crews have spent hours using beaters to try to suppress the flames on one section of the hill yesterday, while their colleagues ferried water back and forth, and started to believe they had won their battle, only to watch as the land began to smoulder once again.
and as if things weren’t bad enough already, a swarm of horseflies has descended on the hill, biting firefighters as they work in the searing heat. “up in the moors it’s difficult – it’s sticky it’s dusty, it’s humid. the dust gets in your eyes. it’s horrible, it’s all the things that you don’t want. it’s very frustrating when the wind changes and the fire picks up again, “says watch commander richard taylor.
during the evening, the skyline was lit up by an orange glow. unlike the saddleworth moor blaze, thankfully no nearby homes have had to be evacuated. but police have been forced to close roads for the public’s safety.
asst chief fire officer dave Keelan said: “this is an exceptionally challenging time and i am proud of the hard work and brave commitment of our firefighters.”
earlier in the week, there were concerns the blaze could affect the
Winter hill mast, a broadcasting and transmitting station which serves around six million homes, but fortunately the threat passed.
at the height of the fire, the plume of smoke was so large that it could be seen from miles around.
fire break trenches had to be dug to try to protect local buildings.
While the vast majority of people have heeded the emergency services’ warning to stay away from the fire, the odd few have ignored their advice.
one man had to be treated for smoke inhalation after crossing a police line and later collapsing after walking up to Pike tower.
the fire service also had to issue a warning calling for amateur drone operators to keep away, due to the risk posed to the helicopter pilots.
a 22-year-old man from bolton was arrested on suspicious of arson, in connection with the Winter hill fire, before being ‘released under investigation’.
helicopter pilots even reported seeing people lighting new fires close to where crews were working.
but the greater manchester public have rallied round to provide food and