This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-44671875
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Winter Hill: Crews battle 'aggressive' merged moorland fire | Winter Hill: Crews battle 'aggressive' merged moorland fire |
| (7 months later) | |
| Fire crews are continuing to battle "a rapidly developing and aggressive fire" on moorland across Lancashire. | Fire crews are continuing to battle "a rapidly developing and aggressive fire" on moorland across Lancashire. |
| A major incident was declared when strong winds caused two large fires to merge close to major communication masts. | A major incident was declared when strong winds caused two large fires to merge close to major communication masts. |
| Police told walkers and motorists to stay away from the scene at Winter Hill and Scout Road near Bolton. | Police told walkers and motorists to stay away from the scene at Winter Hill and Scout Road near Bolton. |
| More than 100 firefighters from around England are tackling the fire, Lancashire Fire service said. | More than 100 firefighters from around England are tackling the fire, Lancashire Fire service said. |
| It comes as crews from across the country also joined firefighters and the Army combat a blaze 30 miles away at Saddleworth Moor in Greater Manchester, which started a week ago. | It comes as crews from across the country also joined firefighters and the Army combat a blaze 30 miles away at Saddleworth Moor in Greater Manchester, which started a week ago. |
| Along with the Winter Hill fire, it has blanketed the region in smoke and ash. People in nearby areas have been asked to keep doors and windows closed. | Along with the Winter Hill fire, it has blanketed the region in smoke and ash. People in nearby areas have been asked to keep doors and windows closed. |
| The Winter Hill blaze, which started on Thursday near a major TV transmitter, is smouldering in pockets across a 3 sq miles (8 sq km) area. | The Winter Hill blaze, which started on Thursday near a major TV transmitter, is smouldering in pockets across a 3 sq miles (8 sq km) area. |
| A 22-year-old man, from Bolton, was arrested on Friday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. | A 22-year-old man, from Bolton, was arrested on Friday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. |
| Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said it was expecting to tackle the fire until Tuesday at the earliest. | Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said it was expecting to tackle the fire until Tuesday at the earliest. |
| It also appealed for people not to fly drones over the scene. | It also appealed for people not to fly drones over the scene. |
| How common are moorland fires in the UK? | How common are moorland fires in the UK? |
| The current moorland fires are relatively unusual, says Alastair Lewis, professor at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, but they could become more frequent because of climate change. | The current moorland fires are relatively unusual, says Alastair Lewis, professor at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, but they could become more frequent because of climate change. |
| Guillermo Rein, professor of fire science at Imperial College London, said a population increase and the growth of development on the fringe of urban areas has also contributed. | Guillermo Rein, professor of fire science at Imperial College London, said a population increase and the growth of development on the fringe of urban areas has also contributed. |
| He says the link between fires and climate change is even stronger in northern Europe. While small fires can be beneficial to moorlands, large and intense fires damage ecosystems, he added. | He says the link between fires and climate change is even stronger in northern Europe. While small fires can be beneficial to moorlands, large and intense fires damage ecosystems, he added. |
| The Met Office says nearly all moorland fires in the UK are started by people - such as from campfires or discarded cigarettes and glass - whereas lightning strikes are frequently the cause in other parts of the world. | The Met Office says nearly all moorland fires in the UK are started by people - such as from campfires or discarded cigarettes and glass - whereas lightning strikes are frequently the cause in other parts of the world. |
| The UK's peaty moorlands are massive carbon reservoirs, which become tinder-boxes during prolonged dry spells, says Nick Ostle from Lancaster Environment Centre. | The UK's peaty moorlands are massive carbon reservoirs, which become tinder-boxes during prolonged dry spells, says Nick Ostle from Lancaster Environment Centre. |
| Source: Science Media Centre | Source: Science Media Centre |
| Lancashire assistant chief fire officer Dave Russell said: "Moorland firefighting is very demanding - the firefighters are dealing with undulating terrain, different types of vegetation but also the logistics of deploying resources onto the moorland present us with a number of challenges. | Lancashire assistant chief fire officer Dave Russell said: "Moorland firefighting is very demanding - the firefighters are dealing with undulating terrain, different types of vegetation but also the logistics of deploying resources onto the moorland present us with a number of challenges. |
| "We're dealing with smouldering fire and flame thumps, which could be 6 to 8 feet. | "We're dealing with smouldering fire and flame thumps, which could be 6 to 8 feet. |
| "My concern primarily yesterday was that, on the top of Winter Hill, there are a number of radio telecommunication systems, which are essentially part of critical national infrastructure." | "My concern primarily yesterday was that, on the top of Winter Hill, there are a number of radio telecommunication systems, which are essentially part of critical national infrastructure." |
| Trenches have been dug to prevent the fire spreading, including one around a house that was evacuated, while a helicopter has been dropping water to help douse the flames. | Trenches have been dug to prevent the fire spreading, including one around a house that was evacuated, while a helicopter has been dropping water to help douse the flames. |
| Greater Manchester assistant 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." | Greater Manchester assistant 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." |
| Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said there was no significant rain forecast in the area this week. | Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said there was no significant rain forecast in the area this week. |
| She added that "winds are likely to pick up overnight", which could worsen the fire. | She added that "winds are likely to pick up overnight", which could worsen the fire. |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| Dave Guest, BBC News | Dave Guest, BBC News |
| The terrain is difficult, the ground is tinder-dry and fire crews are being hampered by strong winds, which have continually whipped up the flames. | The terrain is difficult, the ground is tinder-dry and fire crews are being hampered by strong winds, which have continually whipped up the flames. |
| The problem with peat fires, as we discovered on Saddleworth Moor last week, is they can often burn underground for quite some time and then pop up in different areas. | The problem with peat fires, as we discovered on Saddleworth Moor last week, is they can often burn underground for quite some time and then pop up in different areas. |
| The firefighters say a number of sightseers have been coming up here - ignoring road closures to try to get a closer look - and they're saying don't do that because it is very dangerous. | The firefighters say a number of sightseers have been coming up here - ignoring road closures to try to get a closer look - and they're saying don't do that because it is very dangerous. |
| There are about 200 firefighters on the moors, split over seven areas of wildfire at Saddleworth and Winter Hill. | There are about 200 firefighters on the moors, split over seven areas of wildfire at Saddleworth and Winter Hill. |
| About 100 soldiers from the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, were sent from their Yorkshire barracks on Thursday to aid firefighters in Saddleworth for an initial 48-hour deployment. | About 100 soldiers from the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, were sent from their Yorkshire barracks on Thursday to aid firefighters in Saddleworth for an initial 48-hour deployment. |
| Their presence has been extended until Monday afternoon following a request by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. | Their presence has been extended until Monday afternoon following a request by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. |