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Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has launched a campaign to prevent wildfires on moorland and demonstrated how it is prepared to fight them when they do break out. Each year, moorland across Oldham, Bolton, Lancashire and the rest of the country is devastated by fire. Animals lose their homes and food source, farmers lose income and harmful chemicals and particle matter is let out into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
Damage caused by a fire on the moors in Oldham which had spread from Marsden on March 21 (Image: NQ) What causes these destructive fires? People using the moorlands irresponsibly, dropping cigarettes, leaving disposable barbecues and even deliberately starting them are some of the reasons. Now, GMFRS has started its mission to get the public to "Be Moor Aware". Be Moor Aware signage has been placed around at risk areas (Image: NQ) Up at Higher Swineshaw Reservoir on Thursday, Stalybridge and Hyde station manager Martin Cain and his firefighters demonstrated how they use specialised army vehicles and other specialist equipment to fight wildfires when they occur.
GMFRS now owns two Hagglund all-terrain vehicles which are able to get right to the seat of a moorland fire. The capability of one of the vehicles was demonstrated at the reservoir, where it proved to be an asset to the service as it is fast-moving and able to climb moorland with ease. @theoldhamtimes Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has shown how it is prepared to fight moorland wildfires when they occur.
However, it has explained how its first effort is to stop them before they happen by working with police and the community to educate people to Be Moor Aware. #fireservice #wildfire #police #firefighters ♬ original sound - The Oldham Times It can also carry the equipment needed to fight the fire, such as hoses and blowers. Station manager Martin Cain said: "We're up here today (Thursday) to show what resources we have to put wildfires out.
"We have crews using the Hagglund and the blowers and hose reals, but ultimately it would be great if we didn't have to use all these resources and didn't have any fires up here. Firefighters showed how they use hoses to fight fires (Image: NQ) "They have a huge impact on the local environment, the wildlife and the local communities that live in these areas. "There's a massive effect every time we have a fire up here and one of the big causes of these fires is people.
"People are using fire inappropriately with disposable barbecues up and around the moorland areas like Dovestones and here at Brushes. The Hagglund is able to run on all terrains (Image: NQ) "What people don't tend to realise is that by setting the barbecue alight, it creates embers, and embers when its really, really windy can very easily get caught and blown out of the barbecue and settle into the grass. "That will set a fire, and that fire very, very quickly gets out of hand because it is forced along by wind and very dry grass and heather.
"Ideally, people will come and enjoy the moorland and have a nice time, but they won't bring disposable barbecues, they will think about not having a cigarette and using naked flames up in these types of areas. Firefighters can use the Hagglund to access parts of a wildfire faster and easier (Image: NQ) "We're seeing quite a significant increase in the number of fires, so far this year we've lost count of how many incidents we've had. "Nationally, we're getting close to 300 wildfires up and down the country so we're already seeing a significant number of fires and we only have so many resources.
"The Hagglund and the wildfire response up here today, we only have two in Greater Manchester so the minute they're out and another fire comes in, that's it, we haven't got another response to send. "So the big ask is that people are responsible when they come up here." Station manager Cain explained that the service sees cases of fires being set deliberately and said they are asking people to be Firestoppers.
Much like how Crimestoppers works, Firestoppers is a service where people can anonymously report deliberate fire starting at Firestoppersreport.co.uk .
The station manager also explained that firefighters are also visiting schools and engaging the community to educate people on the safe use of the moorland and inform people of the work they are doing. GMFRS want to stop people acting irresponsibly on the moors (Image: NQ) Representatives from Greater Manchester Police were also present at the reservoir, to explain how the force works with GMFRS to support their efforts. Chief Inspector for neighbourhoods and partnerships for Tameside, Tim Rudd, said: "From a police point of view we're very much involved in the engagement with the local community and the education and prevention side as well.
"We're looking at how we can move away from anti-social behaviour on the moors and get people involved in organised activities rather than engaging in activities which runs the risk of wildfires. "Obviously, if there is a fire we're very much there in a supportive measure, primarily in terms of community safety. "We make sure the relevant evacuations, if necessary and public messages get out to ensure the safety of the community and the individuals that live there.
"We then support the other emergency services to make sure that they can do their job and make sure they can get access and put the relevant road closures in place. A more fire that started in Marsden spread to the edges of Oldham, showing how fast they can spread (Image: WYFRS) "If there is an incident, we also look at any potential investigation and prosecutions that could come from criminal investigations." The impact of wildfires can include lasting effects on agriculture as the moors are extensively used for farming.
The land is largely used for grazing sheep and when it is burnt, the food source is lost. A significant health risk also arises after a large wildfire, with particles which are small enough to be inhaled and potentially reach the blood stream and cause illnesses increasing. An environmental research study by IOP Science found that, following the major Saddleworth Moor fire in June 2018, the concentration of these potentially harmful particles increased by increased by more than 300 per cent in Oldham and Manchester and up to 50 per cent in areas up to 80km away such as Liverpool and Wigan.
Negative impacts can also occur to flood management, as the uplands are increasingly playing a part in preventing flooding in the valleys below as they soak up a large majority of the water. After a wildfire, the water runs off quickly and causes causing flash floods and taking vital soils and peat with it, leaving bare slopes and causing even more and longer lasting damage..
