This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/28/saddleworth-moor-fire-could-take-weeks-to-put-out

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Fire near Saddleworth Moor could take weeks to put out Fire near Saddleworth Moor could take weeks to put out
(about 7 hours later)
The fire on moorland above Manchester could take weeks to put out, according to the Greater Manchester fire and rescue.While properties are not currently at risk from the flames, a change in wind direction could put life in danger again, Tony Hunter, the assistant chief fire officer, said on Thursday. The “apocalyptic” fire on moorland above Manchester is contained and under control but could take weeks to put out, according to the Greater Manchester fire and rescue service.
The fire, which started on Sunday, has reached seven square miles across (18km sq), with the active “fire front” stretching up to 2.5 miles (4km), Hunter said.He was talking after about 100 soldiers from 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland were deployed from their base in Catterick, North Yorkshire, to help the fire service. Fire chiefs said there had been significant improvement on Thursday as the army began to help but warned that a change in wind direction could put life in danger again.
They will join more than 100 firefighters who have been working rolling 12-hour shifts to tackle blaze, which is concentrated on moorland above Stalybridge in Tameside, east of Manchester, stretching towards Dovestones reservoir in Saddleworth, Oldham. Scottish soldiers from the 100-strong A Company of the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, known as the Highlanders, have joined more than 100 firefighters who have been battling the blaze since Sunday.
An RAF Chinook helicopter has also been made available to help move a heavy water pump, which is capable of spraying 7,000 litres of water a minute over the moors.The 34 households evacuated on Tuesday night in Carrbrook, Stalybridge, have returned home, but they and everyone else in Greater Manchester have been advised to keep windows and doors closed as the smoke has spread.Talking to journalists by Higher Swineshaw reservoir in Stalybridge, Hunter said: “The moorland is still smouldering away. We have got over seven square miles affected and we have got over 100 firefighters currently on the scene with more on their way to ensure that we are prepared for an increase in fire or if pockets do appear, because those pockets could draw the fire even nearer to the residents who were affected over the last couple of days.” The fire has reached seven square miles across (18km sq), with the active “fire front” stretching up to 2.5 miles (4km), according to Tony Hunter, the assistant chief fire officer.
Helicopters have been dropping water while firefighters and soldiers used paddles to beat out the flames in 27C (80F) heat.
Hunter said he was cautiously optimistic. “We have made significant improvements, but I would put an air of caution there though; we had a similar occasion yesterday where we thought we were on top of it and it flared up,” he told reporters at the operating base at Swineshaw reservoir.
Maj Phil Morgan, commanding the army detachment, said: “Currently we have broken our boys down into various locations, and we are beating the fire with paddles and we are supporting them by moving equipment. We are putting water on the fires and we are doing everything we can to stop this fire.”
An RAF Chinook helicopter has been made available to help move a heavy water pump, which is capable of spraying 7,000 litres of water a minute over the moors.
The army involvement left fire crews available for other emergencies. On Thursday afternoon 50 fire fighters from Lancashire and Greater Manchester were called to another moorland blaze at Winter Hill on the Pennine hills above Bolton, north-west of Manchester.
The 34 households evacuated on Tuesday night in Carrbrook, Stalybridge, have returned home, but they and everyone else in Greater Manchester have been advised to keep windows and doors closed as the smoke has spread.
That advice is likely to continue well into next week, with Hunter warning that the weather forecast did not bode well. “We have not seen any indication of any rain coming in the next couple of days/weeks, so we can see this being prolonged for days if not weeks. It is dependent on a downpour of rain – and it would have to be a significant downpour of rain because it is so dry it would be absorbed very, very quickly,” he said.
Whether you live in the area or work as a firefighter, police officer or emergency services worker we’d like to hear from you. How have you been affected?Whether you live in the area or work as a firefighter, police officer or emergency services worker we’d like to hear from you. How have you been affected?
You can share your experiences by filling in this encrypted form – anonymously if you wish. Your responses will only be seen by the Guardian and we’ll feature some of your responses in our reporting. You can read terms of service here.You can share your experiences by filling in this encrypted form – anonymously if you wish. Your responses will only be seen by the Guardian and we’ll feature some of your responses in our reporting. You can read terms of service here.
The weather forecast did not bode well for firefighting, he warned. “We have not seen any indication of any rain coming in the next couple of days/weeks, so we can see this being prolonged for days if not weeks. It is dependent on a downpour of rain – and it would have to be a significant downpour of rain because it is so dry it would be absorbed very, very quickly. There could be a dramatic change should the wind switch direction and push the fire back towards the arid, peat bogs, which provide perfect fuel for a long-burning fire. “If there is a change in wind to the opposite direction, it is a completely different picture then in terms of the fuel available to this fire,” he said.
There could be a “dramatic change” should the wind switch direction and push the fire back towards the arid peat bogs, which have not yet ignited but provide perfect fuel for a long-burning fire. “If there is a change in wind to the opposite direction, it is a completely different picture then in terms of the fuel available to this fire,” he said. Dave Saxon, the director of operations at Tameside council, said it was monitoring air quality, which had improved on Thursday, and there had been no increase in GP appointments or attendance at A&E.
Firefighters had been working until dusk on Wednesday night and, as it was too dangerous to go on the moors at night while it was on fire, an assessment at first light showed there was no “significant increase”. Fire chiefs said they were not confident of finding out how the fire began, given the size of the blaze, but there was no evidence it had been started by barbecues or off-road bikers.
On Thursday morning the soldiers were being trained by the fire services and will help carrying equipment and anything else necessary.“We are extremely pleased to have the support of the armed forces. Those firefighters on the moorland today are the same firefighters that spent over 12 hours on those moorlands yesterday,” said Hunter.Gary Lane, an RAF wing commander, said: “We’ve got 100 troops deploying and they are going to come down in pockets of 30 and they are going to be supporting fire and rescue.”The initial deployment was for 48 hours but they were prepared to stay longer if necessary, he added. Hunter asked members of the public to keep country lanes free from cars so the emergency services could access them easily. “The fire is over a large area and we would ask the public to stay away from where the emergency services are working and to keep out of the smoke, but I wouldn’t want people not to visit Saddleworth because it is a lovely area to visit.
Hunter asked members of the public to keep country lanes free from cars so the emergency services could access them easily, and to check the news for updates. “The fire is over a large area and we would ask the public to stay away from where the emergency services are working and to keep out of the smoke, but I wouldn’t want people not to visit Saddleworth because it is a lovely area to visit. We would just ask people to be careful as you would normally in terms of the country code in terms of barbecues and naked lights and be very, very careful in these very dry conditions.”He said the fire service had considered trying to close the moors but had decided against it. “We believe we have the fire contained and we have the resources to deal with an increase in fire, so at this stage that’s not a requirement,” he said. “We would just ask people to be careful as you would normally in terms of the country code in terms of barbecues and naked lights and be very, very careful in these very dry conditions.”
He said the fire service had considered trying to close the moors but had decided against it. “We believe we have the fire contained and we have the resources to deal with an increase in fire, so at this stage that’s not a requirement,” he said.
Fire chiefs say it is the worst moorland fire in living memory to hit Saddleworth, a vast tract of barren land, high on the hills straddling Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and Derbyshire.Fire chiefs say it is the worst moorland fire in living memory to hit Saddleworth, a vast tract of barren land, high on the hills straddling Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
The impact could even be seen from space as Nasa satellites picked up the plumes of smoke.The impact could even be seen from space as Nasa satellites picked up the plumes of smoke.
Air quality levels in the area are being monitored regularly. A handful of local schools have been closed and air quality levels in the area are being monitored regularly. Experts warned that high levels of pollutants generated from the blaze could have a significant effect on people’s health.
A handful of local schools have been closed. A GP from the area said residents living near Saddleworth Moor have reported problems including nosebleeds, eye irritation and chest problems.
Experts warned that high levels of pollutants generated from the blaze could have a significant effect on people’s health. Dr Richard Bircher, of Lockside Medical Centre in Stalybridge, said about half the emergency appointments booked on Thursday were from patients reporting problems as a result of the smoke.
“People are worried about it. They are minor symptoms but people are a bit scared,” he said, adding that the smoke was also exacerbating problems for people with asthma.
“Thankfully the smoke is getting less at the moment, but the advice is to try to avoid it,” he said. “If people are feeling really bad they can take an antihistamine. We are also advising people to wash their hands and face to get rid of any dust and wear a facemask.”
Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester
Wildfires
North of England
Weather
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content