Fag ends blamed for moor blazes

Unthinking motorists are being targeted in a major crackdown on a spate of fires which have ravaged hundreds of acres of Saddleworth moor.

In recent weeks, fierce fires have raged around some villages and key roads linking Huddersfield, Holmfirth and the motorway network.

Now the National Trust, the Peak District National Park and emergency services are alerting visitors of the dangers.

And the National Park’s chief ranger, Sean Prendergast, gave a sombre warning: “If a moorland blaze burnt through to the peat below the surface it could unlock millions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere and have a dramatic, long-term effect on our climate.”
The National Trust’s Marsden Moor estate near Stanedge is latest victim of the fires and valuable nesting sites were wiped out in a blaze attended by more than 50 firemen.

Angry estate managers say “a needless act” might have caused widespread devastation to vital habitat and breeding grounds.

Guy Laurie, property manager for the trust’s estate said: “We are working closely with local authorities to increase understanding of the dangers of discarding cigarette butts on open moorland and help visitors appreciate the risk and why we should care more for the countryside on our doorstep.”

He added: “This is the second large-scale fire on trust land at Marsden in the last month — it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“It is the beginning of the breeding season for many birds, some of which — including the diminutive twite — are rare and important, using Marsden as their sole breeding ground.

“Nearly 200 acres have been lost, and this is a real tragedy. It really could, and should, have been avoided.”

Now, in addition to stepping up volunteer patrols to monitor the area, the trust has a fire severity index which measures the risk of fire at certain times of the year.

Hotter periods and strong winds can ignite and spread blazes quickly and the trust will be erecting short-term notices to warn of risks.

“But two recent fires occurred when the risk was relatively low, and just reiterated how quickly fire can spread,” said Mr Laurie.

Pennine Helicopters, based in Diggle, is working with public bodies seeking direct Government funding for aerial fire-fighting.

Pennine operates the only two Kestrel Fire Buckets in the country, which uniquely allow the pilot to control the flow of water on to the fire.

Pennine’s chief pilot, Captain Chris Ruddy, is a member of the fire operations group for the Peak District National Park.

He is working on policies for prevention, preparation, and tackling moorland fires, with an objective of minimum harm to the environment and demand on the fire service.

Mr Prendergast, who is responsible for 550 square miles of the National Park, added: “If peat bogs were operating as nature intended they could capture the equivalent of 1.1 billion car miles – which is phenomenal.”

* Last year three men from West Yorkshire were fined a total of £1,200 for damaging an internationally protected site, by deliberately setting fire to an area of moorland within the Peak District National Park.