Moorland Fire

This being a public forum; I'm unable to say what I'd like to do to the cretins who who have set the fires. but it would be painful.

Sorry Chewbacca, I'm half watching the footie, so posting even more incoherently than usual. Yes, as Fairview confirmed, we seem to have an outbreak of fire setters. the initial fire on Winter Hill was, the police believe, set deliberately. A young man was arrested, he's been released pending further enquiries. Earlier today the police helicopter crew report having seen someone setting fires not far from where fire crews and others are trying to contain the current fire.
It's heart breaking and infuriating. It's also a very serious offence. Arson carries a life sentence. I do hope if they get the perpetrators, that's what the court imposes. Serve the minimum 8 years and stay on licence for the rest of their sorry lives.

Iam64 yes just heard,my son rang me,what sort of bloody morons would start more fires!!! Our firemen are already stretched and risking their lives,we have firemen also now from South Wales and Warickshire..the destruction is horrendous and now raving lunatics are seen setting more fires...OMG...

Do you mean fires were being set deliberately Iam64, ot have I misunderstood? Really hope I've misunderstood.

Local news in the area of Winter Hill report that the police helicopter spotted fire setting close to where fire fighters are trying to contain the blaze.

A fire started this morning on a large expanse of grassland and woods very close to us in North Essex. The grass had grown to shoulder height. It was mowed and baled up yesterday so the bone dry cuttings would have ignited easily. I think the fire brigade have it under control as the smell seems to have abated.
We desperately need rain all over the country.

I don't know Chewbaccabut I hope he gets a very long spell in prison!!!

Aside from the devastation, misery and fear that the moorland fires are causing to those who live close by, it's galling to know that one of the fires was started deliberately. I struggle to understand what goes through the mind of someone who can do that, particularly as it's a person local to the area. What is the matter with him? Just why? For what damned purpose?

Am praying Fennelglad you know our beautiful moorland..

Very sad for all living nearby. We used to walk on those moors, much of it is low growing plants like heather and ling. Then often peat underneath which as we know is used for domestic fires. Everything tinder-dry.
Pray for rain?

I'm sorry to read that the 2 moorland fires at Winter Hill have worsened overnight and are now one large fire. I can't imagine how worrying it must be for those who live close to the area and are directly affected by it. The fire crew involved in tackling both this fire, and the one on Kinder, must be utterly exhausted, having worked round the clock for days. Undersung heroes, all of them.

I thought you would translate easily farview. The Lancashire Fire and Rescue service has a video on facebook, showing the extent of the fire and the efforts of firefighters, with support from the Army. Such brave men, they must be exhausted. Another very hot day here, with a breeze which will surely fan the flames. Devastating isn't it.
I agree, thanks to our amazing fire service and others supporting them.

Iam64I knew you meant Egerton,the smell today is awful and just seen on the news that it's still a major incident,I live near Bob's smithy pub on the edge of the Moors,just had a weep. My beloved moorland..will take years to recover.thanking our amazing fire service for their work!

My thoughts are with all those affected by this - I always think about the poor animals who perish in such disasters. As you say it will take years to recover - so sad. We have peatland at the edge of our town in South Yorks and there are often fires on there - thankfully so far I haven't heard of any in this heatwave. People are just so thoughtless and careless as a whole but those who deliberately start these fires are the worst - we need stronger deterrents and severe penalties for them when they're caught!

I live in East Cheshire and earlier this evening went up to a local beauty spot to watch the sunset. Without binoculars, the plume of black smoke drifting right across the skyline from the Saddleworth fire and meeting up with the Winter Hill fires is very visible. Winter Hill tower, normally perfectly visible even from this distance, looks perilously close to the fires.The whole of the skyline, for miles and miles, has a huge black pall of smoke hanging above it. And worryingly, there's a strong warm wind now that will fan the flames even more.

There was a large fire on Saddleworth Moors in the 1970s that burned underground for several years and sprang up again several times. It's just heart breaking that that could happen again.

We saw someone 'fire-setting' many years ago and couldn't believe what we were seeing - we beat a hasty retreat and went back to report it (the days before mobile phones) but someone was already alerting the authorities.

Fairview - I posted on my mobile earlier. I'm almost sure now, that its been taken over by an alien force. Every time I use it to catch up with gransnet, it translates something I've written to make even less sense. My post should have read that I drove through Bromley Cross to Egerton and not, "and broke cross to Everton". One of the phone's problems (in addition to having been taken over) is that even with my specs on, I can't read the print

The fire isn't currently blowing towards Smithills but, is a major incident with many roads closed. It really is awful.
Jalima1108 you can imagine the proposals from various people on the local facebook pages about the kind of punishment the arsonist deserves. Arson carries a life sentence, which I expect will be 8 years mad but will a life long licence.

fire started Thursday, deliberately,man been arrested,
This is shocking.

I have been in Australia when there have been fires (and dust storms) and it is both horrible and frightening. Some of the fires there are started deliberately.
One wonders - why?

Hi RosieLeahat the top of Smithills Dean Rd is Scout Rd ,Horrocks fold,fire bad there but blowing away, thankfully from Smithills x major incident now,really awful

I didn't realise so many of you were in the North West. I hope it doesn't spread to the Smithills, that's just been bought and restored with donations. It would be heart-breaking if we lost all that after all the work and money that has gone into it.
I live close to Pendle Hill, another area of moorland that could just as easily suffer the same fate.

Nesting not eating...

Oops sorry got your username wrong Iam64yes it's horrendous,it's heartbreaking re the wildlife,the ground eating birds,voles,mice,rabbits,snakes,insects etcetera..I keep going in the garden looking across at the smoke... upsetting!!

It’s growing fiercely. I drove through Harwood and broke cross to Everton, huge clouds of smoke. It’s also still very hot but with a breeze which may fan the fire. We’d planned a long walk tomorrow but in the area affected, that can’t happen now. Praying that animals and firefighters are safe. Wildlife must be affected. There are many deer around the moorland

Hi Iamsixtyit now is joining up with another one on Horrocks fold,firemen think they may have to pull out for a while....

Yes OldMegthe winter hill one was deliberate,