Firefighters tackle blaze on moors
Firefighters and the army are tackling ferocious fires that broke out on moorlands near Manchester on 24 June. Scorching temperatures from the recent heatwave have caused them to intensify and spread.
What happened?
More than 100 firefighters and around 100 soldiers were deployed to battle a seven square mile blaze on Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District. By 26 June, almost 40 homes had been evacuated and some local schools were closed. Elsewhere, another fire broke out at Winter Hill in Lancashire and merged with a second fire near Bolton. More than 80 firefighters have been tackling the Winter Hill blaze since 28 June. It could take weeks to put all the fires out, but no one has been injured.
How did the fires start?
It’s not clear what caused the fire on Saddleworth Moor although it is thought that it may have begun as a bonfire. Scorching temperatures and dry grass meant that the blaze spread quickly. Police suspect that the other two fires may have been started deliberately – one person has been arrested. Firefighters have dug trenches to stop the fires spreading and to protect buildings, and helicopters have poured big buckets of water from the sky.
What is a heatwave?
A heatwave is a long period of unusually warm weather. This one has been caused by a high-pressure weather system over the UK. A high-pressure weather system happens when warm air rises and cool air falls. The downward moving cool air stops clouds from forming, resulting in light winds and high temperatures, because there are no clouds to stop the Sun’s heat reaching the Earth’s surface.
How has the heatwave affected the UK?
Roads in Wales have begun to melt due to high temperatures, and railway tracks across the UK have expanded and buckled causing trouble for travellers. Meanwhile, the hot weather has resulted in a high demand for salad. However, lettuce cannot grow when temperatures reach 30ºC, so farmers are warning there could be a shortage. Wildlife experts have asked people to put bowls of water in their gardens to help birds, squirrels and hedgehogs, all of whom are desperate for a drink.