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Belmont moorland fire: Huge grass blaze breaks out Belmont moorland fire: Huge grass blaze breaks out
(about 1 hour later)
Firefighters are tackling a large blaze near Winter Hill in Lancashire. Firefighters are tackling a large fire near Winter Hill in Lancashire.
The grass fire broke out at about 14:30 GMT in Belmont. Crews from Lancashire and Greater Manchester fire services are at the scene. The grass blaze broke out at about 14:30 GMT on the moor between Rivington and Belmont.
A major fire burned for more than a month in the area during the 2018 heatwave. The public has been advised to stay away from the area as 40 firefighters tackle the flames, which have reached heights of 6m (19ft 8in).
On Thursday, a fire service boss said he was "astonished" by large groups gathering for barbecues on the moors amid the coronavirus outbreak. The wildfire broke out 24 hours after a fire service boss said he was "astonished" by large groups gathering for barbecues on the moors.
Moorland barbecues had been banned after the huge fires in 2018, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said people were meeting to cook food despite a ban on moorland barbecues after huge fires in 2018.
Justin Johnston, chief fire officer for Lancashire, tweeted Friday's fire was "just [what] we didn't need right now". It also flouts the government's instructions on social distancing.
The public have been advised to stay away from the area and residents living nearby have been advised to close windows and doors as a precaution. Crews from Lancashire and Greater Manchester fire services are at the scene.
Justin Johnston, chief fire officer for Lancashire, tweeted the fire was "just [what] we didn't need right now".
"The fire has burned a significant area prior to firefighters arriving at the scene and the fire is being wind driven, moving up from the blue lagoon side of the hill up the banking towards the monument on Rivington," a Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson has said."The fire has burned a significant area prior to firefighters arriving at the scene and the fire is being wind driven, moving up from the blue lagoon side of the hill up the banking towards the monument on Rivington," a Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson has said.
Flames approximately 6m (19ft 8in) high have been seen, they added. Residents living nearby have been advised to close windows and doors as a precaution.