Saddleworth Moor fire being investigated as arson, Manchester police confirm

'The scale of this fire is exceptional and we are treating it with the utmost seriousness'

A wildfire which has burned on Saddleworth Moor for more than a week was started deliberately, detectives believe.

Greater Manchester Police said it was investigating the blaze as arson after witnesses reported seeing people lighting a bonfire on the Pennines moorland 10 days ago.

The force said it was treating the fire with “the utmost seriousness”.

Hundreds of firefighters and soldiers have been working around the clock to tackle the sprawling blaze, which first broke out on 24 June. The fire has caused families to evacuate their homes and schools to close.

Crews now have the blaze under control but it continues to burn in pockets across a seven-mile area of the Peak District, east of Manchester.

Fire chiefs have warned the flames could burn for weeks with no rain forecast.

“The scale of this fire is exceptional and we are treating it with the utmost seriousness,” said Chief Superintendent Neil Evans, the territorial policing commander for Tameside.

Police said they were treating the fire as arson ”following information from local witnesses and initial inquiries”.

“That said, we are under no illusion that solid evidence as to where the fire started, and what was the cause, will not be easy to establish,” added Chief Superintendent Evans.

“The areas we have been able to look at include dusty ash, burnt peat and grass and, because of this, our work with the fire service will be painstaking.

“We recognise the incredible support that the emergency services have received and we now hope that the local community can help us further by getting in touch with any information that could help our investigation.”

Firefighters tackle the wildfire on Saddleworth Moor (PA)

Specialist investigators are focusing on moorland near Stalybridge, where witnesses reported seeing people lighting a bonfire at 7.30pm on 24 June.

Less than 50 minutes later, fire crews were called to a blaze close to Buckton Vale in Tameside.

Around 40 homes were evacuated in the village of Carrbrook as the fire spread on Tuesday amid dry, hot weather. Several local schools also shut after authorities declared a “major incident”.

More than than 100 troops and an RAF Chinook helicopter have been deployed to tackle the blaze, which took hold during the hottest week of the year.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue said rain was needed to help extinguish the flames.

But assistant chief fire officer Tony Hunter said: “We have not seen an indication of any rain coming within the next couple of days, stroke weeks, so we can see this being prolonged for days, if not weeks.”

Interim chief fire officer Dawn Docx said on Wednesday: “Specialist fire investigation officers at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are working closely with Greater Manchester Police to investigate the suspected arson in the moorlands in Tameside.

“Investigations are currently ongoing with a multi-agency approach to find the source of the ignition. There is an area of interest that specialist officers are inspecting.

“Firefighters are working in extremely difficult and challenging circumstances in Tameside and I can’t praise crews enough – they’ve done a fantastic job and are continuing to work hard to put out the multiple fires across the moorlands.

“I would like to urge the public to be really careful with barbecues, discarded cigarettes and glass bottles in the countryside, fires in the moorlands can spread rapidly so it’s important that we take extra care.”

Authorities in Lancashire said earlier this week that arsonists had been spotted trying to start new blazes close to an area of moorland where another large wildfire has been burning for days.

A police helicopter is understood to have seen a group of people attempting to light fires at a grassland called Healey Nab, just four miles away the blaze in Winter Hill.

Tony Crook, of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, described the incident as “absolutely heart-breaking and unbelievable”.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said 20 crews were at Winter Hill on Wednesday as they continue to tackle smouldering areas.

A 22-year-old man arrested by Lancashire Police on suspicion of starting one of the Winter Hill fires has been released under investigation.

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Those who start fires on purpose should feel the full force of the law.

“The people who started the moorlands fires are responsible for a catastrophe that has endangered an enormous number of people. People are having to evacuate their homes, livestock has been lost and natural beauty spots have been ravaged. Resources have been sent from fire and rescue services all across the country.”

Anyone with any information can contact police on 101 or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.