Fire crews remain at Marsden Moor fire

Fire crews remain at the scene of a huge moorland fire which started over the weekend at Marsden.

At its height last night (Sunday), ten pumps plus specialist wildfire units were tackling a fire with a one-mile flame front on Marsden Moor, just off the main A62 Oldham to Huddersfield road.

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

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

West Yorkshire Fire Service continue to attend the blaze, while yesterday they were supported by Greater Manchester Fire, West Yorkshire Police, Mountain Rescue and the National Trust.

This morning at 8am (Monday), a West Yorkshire Fire Service update read: “We still have four appliances and specialist wildfire units tackling pockets of fire on Marsden Moor. 

“We continue to work in partnership with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue and the National Trust.

“We are asking residents to please stay away from the area and off Marsden Moor.”

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 £2,000.

Countryside Manager for the National Trust, Craig Best, said: "It is 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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