Soldiers join the battle to halt the fires raging across moors
SOLDIERS joined exhausted fire crews on Saddleworth Moor yesterday to help the desperate battle to quell one of Britain’s worst wildfires.
The blaze has now spread across seven square miles of the Peak District, and is feared to have destroyed 2,000 acres of moorland.
The billowing acrid smoke from its 20ft-high flames is so thick it can be seen from space.
It has been raging for five days without a drop of rain to help to put out the flames amid a heatwave which yesterday saw temperatures reach 94F (33C).
As 100 troops from the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland joined the fight, a contingent of soldiers and firefighters were sent to fight a second smaller fire which broke out 30 miles away on Winter Hill in Horwich near Bolton.
Last night Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the Saddleworth wildfire could rage “for weeks”.
Bleeding
Tony Hunter, assistant chief fire officer, said: “The fire is contained – but we only need a change of wind direction to see it increase.”
Major Phil Morgan, commanding the 4th Battalion, said: “We’re beating the fire with paddles and moving equipment, putting water on the fire. It looks like we’ll be here for another 48 hours.”
Among the affected areas is the village of Carrbrook, in Stalybridge, where 34 households have been evacuated.
Sue McDowell and husband Peter fled with pet their West Highland terriers and cat.
Mrs McDowell said: “The flames were getting closer and closer and the smoke got thicker – you couldn’t see anything. We just grabbed whatever we could and got out. “It was scary.” Residents have reported health problems including bleeding noses, eye irritation and chest problems.
It is believed off-road motorcyclists triggered the initial fire on Sunday. Farmer James Crowther wrote on Facebook: “Well done to the stupid idiots on motorbikes who decided to break on to private land, use it as an off-road course then set fire to it afterwards.”
The firefighters and soldiers have been brought food and drinks by locals to keep them going. Stalybridge MP Jonathan Reynolds praised their “Blitz spirit”.
And This Morning host Phillip Schofield marked Armed Forces Day yesterday by saying on air: “We would like to wish all the Armed Forces helping the emergency services to fight the fire on Saddleworth Moor good luck. Incredible job.”