Fire crews tackling major fire on Marsden Moor

The fire started at land off Mount Road in Marsden

Firefighters are tackling a Moorland fire at Marsden.

Ten pumps plus specialist wildfire units are tackling a fire with a one-mile flame front on Marsden Moor.

Crews are also using blowers and beaters to tackle the fire, and local residents are being asked to keep their doors/windows closed.

The smoke can be seen across the Saddleworth villages as well as parts of Oldham and Tameside.

West Yorkshire Fire Service are attending the blaze, along with support from Greater Manchester Fire, West Yorkshire Police, Mountain Rescue and the National Trust.

It follows several weeks of dry weather, which have made the moors extremely vulnerable to fire.

It’s nearly two years to the day since another fire in 2019, which destroyed 700 hectares of land. It took a helicopter four days to fully extinguish the flames, which had been caused by a discarded disposable barbeque. The full restoration effort from that fire is expected to take several years and cost at least £500,000.

BBQs and fires are banned on the moors all year round to protect the landscape. Visitors are reminded that defying the BBQ ban could result in a fine of up to £2000.

Countryside Manager for the National Trust, Craig Best, said: "It’s so frustrating to see yet another fire on our moors after all the hard work our team have put in to try and restore the landscape after last time. Although not on the same area of land as the 2019 fire, this fire has also destroyed a crucial area for rare birds and mammals, as well as carbon-capturing blanket bog."

"We’re so grateful to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for their efforts. Unfortunately, this was another fire started by people, and could have so easily been avoided."

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