Smaller blazes placing additional pressure on already stretched firefighters

As the moorland fires on Saddleworth Moor and Winter Hill near Bolton rumble on well into a second week, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are now being stretched alarmingly thanks to a number of additional smaller blazes.

It’s not yet known whether some of them were started deliberately, but the incidents are placing even more pressure on already pressurised resources and diverting firefighters.

Last night (Monday) a large bush fire was reported on Warren Lane, off Abbeyhills Road, in Glodwick.

Police officers were also forced to join in efforts to put out a fire at a quarry in Saddleworth.

The blaze broke out near Brierfield Road in Dobcross at around midday yesterday.

Police and the mountain rescue teams were first on the scene and called the fire service, who sent four engines.

An area of grassland 500 metres square was involved.

Firefighters were also sent to tackle a fire close to the back entrance of the Tesco Express store on Lees Road in Oldham.

The fire service said: “Our resources are especially stretched at this time given the ongoing, large-scale moorland fire incidents at Tameside and Winter Hill, Bolton.

“Please help us to be able to help you by minimising any activity that could lead to us having to attend an emergency.”

Sixteen Greater Manchester Fire crews remained on Saddleworth Moor yesterday, with a further nine still based at Winter Hill, with both incidents still being supported by crews from across the UK.

A request for an extension to military support has been submitted.

Firefighters have been working 17-hour shifts without a break in order to tackle the aggressive moorland fires, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said.

The union says it is concerned about the lack of available crews to relieve firefighters.

Fears have also been raised over fire services having to rely upon donations for basic supplies.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue has requested donations of sun cream, insect repellent, caps and socks while Lancashire Fire and Rescue asked for soft track vehicles to deliver supplies to firefighters.

Gary Keary, chair of the FBU in the North West, said: “This is an extreme incident and it is pushing everyone to their limits.

“It shows the dedication of our firefighters; they want to get this job done as quickly as possible but there are simply not enough firefighters available.

“A moorland fire on this scale is fortunately rare but the effects of climate change could make similar large scale incidents much more frequent.

“It is deeply saddening that we have had to reach for the begging bowl.

“Our firefighters have been working in difficult conditions to keep the fire from spreading and have done an amazing job.”

Since 2010, 700 firefighter posts have been cut in Greater Manchester and 314 posts have been axed in Lancashire.