Shropshire firefighters head to Lancashire to help tackle moorland fires
Firefighters from Shropshire are assisting Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service in tackling moorland fires in the north west as part of the UKs national resilience efforts.
Two fire engines with firefighters from Shrewsbury, Telford, Hodnet and Prees are providing additional resources to deal with the significant moorland fires in the area.
Shropshire firefighters have joined those from Tyne and Wear, the South West, Nottinghamshire, Humberside and Warwickshire to assist Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Group Commander John Harrison said today: “We sent two volunteer crews last on Sunday night required for national deployment to assist the effort. They were deployed to the scene of operations this morning to assist firefighting operations.”
He also appealed for people to be “extra vigilant” in Shropshire to prevent similar fires taking hold in the county. Grassland at The Wrekin, Catherton Common, Cleobury Mortimer, and the Long Mynd has always posed a threat of fire during hot weather.
“There is a danger in very dry conditions of fires breaking out on grassland and heathland as is being seen in Lancashire and Greater Manchester over the last week.
“I want to appeal to the public in Shropshire to be extra vigilant to prevent outdoor fires on tinder dry land as well as the more obvious potential ignition sources from barbeques and discarded smoking materials.
“Mirrors and glass which reflect sunlight also have the potential to cause fires in these exceptional conditions. The local fire service is well prepared for instances of this nature but the public should remain extra vigilant to help protect our beautiful Shropshire countryside.”
Firefighting conditions “tough” at Winter Hill
Jim Barker, a senior fire officer with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said firefighting conditions were “tough” at Winter Hill in Lancashire where scores of UK firefighters have been working tirelessly to put out moorland fires.
Speaking from the scene this afternoon, he described a huge team of national resilience forces including firefighters, coastguards with 4 x 4 vehicles and a tractor belonging to the national utilities working together to help put out the blaze.
“There is a huge ongoing effort with air support from a helicopter constantly dropping water,” said Jim, an incident commander in charge of a team of 12 firefighters from Shropshire at the scene.
Up to 100 firefighters from across England are tackling the blaze on Winter Hill near Bolton. The fire broke out on Thursday and is expected to burn for several days, the origin and cause of the fire remain unknown.
One man, aged 22, from Bolton, has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Firefighters are also continuing to tackle a fire Saddleworth Moor in Greater Manchester, which started a week ago.
@shropsfire crews on route to #WinterHill to assist @LancashireFRS #alloneteam @BBCShropshire @shropshirelive @BBCShropshire pic.twitter.com/BiBH6hbkzD https://twitter.com/GltnHesbrook/status/1013724790144819200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
@shropsfire @shropshirelive Crews from Shropshire now reached fire front and working alongside other fire and rescue services to reduce spread @LancashireFire pic.twitter.com/XvwHnHaDWy https://twitter.com/GltnHesbrook/status/1013762311130177536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Here’s a view from the top of Winter Hill this morning where crews are back on the moors beating down hot spots pic.twitter.com/GVNREhUQVz https://twitter.com/LancashireFRS/status/1013647384344190976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
