For the latest Oldham news sign up to the MyOldham newsletter here Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Firefighters battling the Saddleworth Moor blaze are coming under ‘intense pressure’ after a second major moor fire broke out on Winter Hill in Bolton. As the exceptionally hot weather continued on Thursday, firefighters from Lancashire were drafted in to help Manchester crews, who were inundated with other calls, including a factory blaze in Rochdale. The service has urged people to take extra care and keep themselves safe, particularly with the hot weather expected to continue over the next few days. More than 100 firefighters spent Thursday continuing to battle seven square miles of moorland blazes on the hills in Tameside , alongside 60 troops from the Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS), who were sent to Greater Manchester overnight to provide back up. A total of 24 fire engines have been on the scene - which is four times the size of Heaton Park - along with specialist units and officers. Fire bosses say a deluge of rain is needed to beat the flames, which are fuelled by peat on the moorlands. There are now five separate areas of fire, reduced from seven. With smoke continuing to drift in the direction of Manchester city centre, experts have warned pollution levels are rising and asthmatics should carry an inhaler at all times. As emergency services, residents and farmers brace themselves for the fifth night of this Major Incident, here’s a recap of what we know so far: SUNDAY AND MONDAY - The fire started on Sunday, June 24, before reigniting on Monday and sweeping through the moor towards homes. Police are yet to confirm whether it could be arson. - Exacerbated by the dry and extremely hot conditions, crews have struggled to contain the blaze as it swept across 6km of grassland. - As the fire progressed, the smoke could be smelt inside properties as far away as Bolton. - Oldham Mountain Rescue Team were deployed on Monday to support fire crews and farmers, providing more support on Tuesday and Wednesday. TUESDAY - By Tuesday afternoon, 65,000 gallons of water had been dropped by helicopter as more dramatic pictures began to emerge of the towering inferno looming over residential areas. - Reports of 2,000 acres of moorland being destroyed emerged, with the fire spreading as far as Tintwistle in Derbyshire. - Sad news also came of the toll on wildlife, with deer described as ‘running from the flames on fire’ and further fears for birds and sheep also reported. - On Tuesday night, around 34 homes in the village of Carrbrook were evacuated as the inferno edged closer to people’s property. - Asthmatics were advised to stay in their homes and people were warned to keep pets indoors as a smoky haze settled above the city. - Residents used social media to rally support for emergency services, with food, water and even a pizza delivery making their way to firefighters. - Thousands of messages of thanks flooded in for the men and women risking their lives to keep residents safe. - On Tuesday night, firefighters managed to beat the fire back 150 metres, but it remained 200 metres from properties. WEDNESDAY - Carrbrook residents were allowed back into their homes and electricity was restored, but they were given face masks and told to stay inside. - Hospitals said there had been no increase in respiratory-related admissions. - Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they had ‘requested military assistance from the Ministry of Defence’. - Police deployed a helicopter to assess the scene and United Utilities provided another chopper to drop water onto areas of the fire that are difficult to access on foot. - By lunchtime there were seven separate incidents ongoing on the moors in different areas, including Calico Crescent in Carrbrook, Stalybridge; Intake Cottage and Intake Lane near Mossley, Castle Farm near Carrbrook; Dove Stone; Higher Swineshaw; and Chew Road near Greenfield. - A total of 29 engines from Greater Manchester and neighbouring fire and rescue services were at the scene. - Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn praised firefighters during Prime Minister’s Questions. - Reports of smoke pollution continued, with Brenda Warrington, leader of Tameside Borough Council, calling for a ‘really, really good downpour’. - At 1pm on Wednesday, firefighters warned the wind had changed direction, pushing the flames back towards Carrbrook. - Manchester Airport said the fire was not impacting flights - although passengers on some paths were flying over the scenes of devastation. - ‘Spectators’ keen to get closer to the blaze were warned to ‘stay away and let the firefighters do their job’. - Prime Minister Theresa May said the Government was keeping the situation in Saddleworth ‘under constant review’. - There were reports that the fire is likely to ‘stay for days’ - As communities continued to donate to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, people were asked to drop items at Stalybridge Community Fire Station, SK15 1RF - Dave Keelan, director of emergency response at the fire service, says that crews were working extremely hard. Conditions can change in seconds, he added. THURSDAY - As the sun rose on the fifth day of the fire, 100 troops from the 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, along with a Chinook helicopter, were deployed to assist firefighters. - Mossley Hollins High School, which was closed due to the fire on Wednesday, reopened on Thursday. - Experts warned the fire was generating high levels of tiny particles of pollution known as ‘particulate matter’, created by burning materials such as plants. The particulate matter is combining with high levels of ozone, another pollutant created when pollution is exposed to sunshine, leading to poor air quality in the area. People with asthma have been warned to carry their inhaler at all times. - At a press conference, Tony Hunter from the fire services warned crews could be on the moor ‘for weeks’ tackling the blaze. He said they were in urgent need of rainfall. RAF Wing Commander Gary Lane said his troops were there to provide support. - In the afternoon, updates said the crews were fighting the fire from six locations and their efforts had resulted in a ‘significant improvement’. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now - Their efforts were assisted by gamekeepers from nine shooting estates in the Peak District, who returned to Saddleworth Moor to help combat the flames. They helped over the previous three days alongside fire services, Peak District Park wardens, National Trust wardens, RSPB wardens, farmers and other volunteers. - At 11.30am on Thursday, crews were called to a fire involving wooden pallets at a factory on Moss Bridge Road in Rochdale. - Earlier in the day, five fire engines and an aerial platform were called to a fire involving a balcony on the seventh floor of a block of flats on Red Bank, in Manchester’s Green Quarter. Crews used eight breathing apparatus and various equipment to deal with the fire. No one was injured. - At 3.12pm on Thursday, firefighters were called to a fire involving a TV mast on Winter Hill in Bolton, stretching resources even further. Lancashire Fire and Rescue was also assisting. - At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Tony Hunter confirmed the authorities had considered and would continue to consider whether to close a section of moorland to the public. - On Thursday evening, GMFRS issued a statement about the ‘intense pressure’ they are under and urged people to ‘take extra care’. Got a story or an issue you want us to investigate? Want to tell us about something going on where you live? Let us know - in complete confidence - by emailing newsdesk@men-news.co.uk, calling us on 0161 211 2323, tweeting us @MENnewsdesk or messaging us on our Facebook page . You can also send us a story tip using the form here . Join the Manchester Evening News breaking news Facebook group for a place to read and talk about breaking news in Greater Manchester.<doc-sep>Firefighters are currently tackling a large fire in Rochdale. A huge plume of thick black smoke is coming from the blaze on Moss Bridge Road and can be seen for miles. Eight fire engines are currently at the scene of the fire. The blaze involves a large quantity of plastic in a mouldings yard. It has spread to an adjacent building. A fire service spokesperson said: "We currently have eight pumps dealing with an incident in Moss Bridge Road, Rochdale. A large amount of thick smoke has discharged over the local area. Please keep doors and windows closed and avoid the area" Follow the latest updates as we get them. Join the Manchester Evening News breaking news Facebook group for a place to read and talk about breaking news in Greater Manchester.<doc-sep>
Extraordinary drone footage has captured the trail of destruction being left by a raging fire sweeping parts of Saddleworth Moor. The Manchester woodlands - where serial killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley buried four of their victims - have been covered with a blanket of thick, billowing smoke that can be seen for miles. It has prompted a warning for nearby residents to keep their windows and doors closed., the Manchester Evening News reports. Fire crews were first called to the blaze at around 8.20pm on Sunday and they worked with a local gamekeeper to bring it under control. (Image: K J DAVE) (Image: K J DAVE) (Image: K J DAVE) They have been using equipment likened to industrial leaf blowers, and beaters to try and extinguish the flames. But as Brits were basking in the glorious heatwave, the hot temperatures caused the fire to start up again on Monday morning just before 8am. Firefighters have been battling the flames ever since and are expected to stay there the rest of this afternoon. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Today, the sheer scale of the blaze was captured by a drone, taking hundreds of extraordinary images showing the enormous cloud of smoke blocking the sky. Flames can be seen flickering, as well as the remnants of charred woodland. (Image: K J DAVE) (Image: K J DAVE) (Image: PA) The fire can be seen across the region, with people sharing images from as far as Cheshire, Glossop and Ancoats. Station Manager Lee Bourne, who is the incident commander, said: “Crews are making good progress this morning and are managing to get a hold on the fire. “There is a concern about the amount of low lying smoke which is affecting local areas, namely Carbrook, Greenfield and parts of Saddleworth, along with Stalybridge. “Due to the weather conditions and there being a lack of wind, the smoke has settled so it is important for residents to keep doors and windows closed where there is any visible smoke.” (Image: PA) (Image: Pablo J Gonzalez) (Image: PA) Station Manager Dave Swallow said on Monday: "The land is well alight and crews are using Forced Air Firefighting Units, which are like industrial leaf blowers, and beaters to extinguish the flames. “It’s a challenging incident for our crews due to the heat and the fact that the area involved in fire is around two miles from the nearest access point.”