Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has reminded people to “act responsibly if you are going out to enjoy the countryside.”
The polite reminder comes amid continuing wildfires at Dovestone Reservoir and Tintwistle, with several smaller fires also having broken out in recent days in the surrounding area. Firefighters from GMFRS and the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (as well as firefighters from other regions) continue to tackle the blazes that have blighted the region for the last couple of weeks.
GMFRS has put out a video on social media telling people to “NEVER have a barbecue or start any kind of fire on the moors”. Despite the hot weather and dry conditions, people continue to have barbecues in areas where sparks could set off a new fire. Others have been discovered letting off fireworks.
Wildfires can not only cause serious damage to wildlife, they use valuable resources as firefighters are pulled from pillar to post. And, as people in Tameside and the surrounding area have discovered in recent weeks, the smoke that billows from the moor fires can have a detrimental effect on people’s health.
The video also mentions the Be Moor Aware campaign, which is a wildfire prevention initiative led by regional fire and rescue services (such as Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire) and major moorland landowners.
If you see a fire, ring 999 and ask for the fire service.
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