Saddleworth Moor fire rages on as military moves in
The Manchester community has stepped up to help firefighters battle one of the worst ever moors fires in the region.
Thursday 28 June 2018 06:20, UK
Around 100 soldiers and an RAF Chinook helicopter will help tackle the huge fires at Saddleworth Moor near Manchester.
Fire chiefs called in the military as the blaze worsened several days after starting on the edge of the moor in Greater Manchester.
Troops have been deployed overnight from their barracks in Catterick, Yorkshire, while the RAF Chinook is arriving on Thursday morning to airlift heavy equipment over the rough terrain.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "I pay tribute to our armed forces' professionalism, dedication and sense of duty.
"They are proving once again that Britain can always depend on our troops to protect us no matter the time, no matter the place, and no matter the problem."
More than 100 firefighters on 29 fire engines have been using beaters and specialist wildfire equipment to tackle seven pockets of fire, up from four on Tuesday, over a 6km (3.7 mile) area.
The smoke could be seen from a NASA satellite.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) called in the army to move high-volume pump equipment by air to halt the spread.
The crews have been dealing with frequent wind direction changes, searing temperatures on the hottest day of the year and highly flammable peaty ground.
There is also a lack of roads or paths in the area, meaning firefighters are having to drag hoses miles into the difficult terrain.
The fire was left overnight as it was too dangerous for firefighters to be on the moor in the dark.
Mr Keelan said: "The request is to assist us to move some high volume pumps by air to locations that we couldn't get them to with vehicles, and also the ability to transport personnel to those more remote areas so we can get there quicker with more people with the water supplies we hope to put in place to try and resolve the incident in a quicker nature.
"We are still in detailed discussions with the military over the logistical element of it. They will obviously move as quick as they can to get resources here.
"I think it has got worse because there are more areas of fire and we are trying our best to contain them.
"When there were four areas they would have been bigger than now, but we now have more pockets of fire."
The blaze started on Sunday and was brought under control but it reignited the next day, with farmer Chris Keyts alerting the fire brigade.
People in up to 100 homes have been evacuated since Tuesday night, with many returning on Wednesday as air quality levels were deemed safe.
The community has been providing firefighters with support and supplies, from water to 600 Mars Bars.
Mr Keelan said morale remained high despite them working "extremely hard in really hot conditions".
"It's more of a task to get them down here to rest than to get them up there," he added.
Firefighter Clive Hopkinson told Sky News the fire is "virtually unprecedented on the moors".
Air quality levels in the area are being regularly monitored as the smoke reached central Manchester, with Public Health England advising people to keep their windows and doors shut.
Experts warned high levels of pollutants from the fire could have a significant effect on people's health.
Hugh Coe, professor of atmospheric composition at the University of Manchester, said plume peak concentrations were "very high" and air quality close to the fire was "very poor".
Four schools were closed on Wednesday and Brenda Warrington, leader of Tameside Borough Council, said they needed a "really good downpour".
However, no rain is forecast for Tameside for the rest of the week.
Fire chiefs said they were concentrating on putting the blaze out and would then carry out a detailed investigation into the cause.
One possible line of inquiry could focus on the frequent gathering of off-road bikers - many not displaying registered plates - at a nearby quarry.