A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of arson as firefighters continue to tackle a blaze on Winter Hill near the Saddleworth Moors.
The unnamed 22-year-old was taken into custody after the fire broke out near Bolton at around 3.20pm on Thursday. Lancashire firefighters say they expect to spend the next 48 hours tackling the massive blaze, covering an area of around 1.5 square miles. 18 fire engines remain at the scene on Winter Hill, including crews from Cumbria and Merseyside, alongside specialist wildlife units.
TWITTER/LANCASHIRE_FIRE Around 100 firefighters are on the scene
About 100 firefighters are being assisted by mountain rescue officers and a helicopter from water firm United Utilities. A fire service spokesman said there was no immediate risk to local houses but people should keep their windows and doors closed. Lancashire crews had been deployed to support colleagues in Manchester as they tackled a vast blaze spanning seven square miles on Saddleworth Moor. Fire officials said the blaze was now largely “contained and under control” after troops and helicopters from the Royal Regiment of Scotland were deployed to help quell the flames.
James Crowther, 30, said he saw a group of people on the moors on Sunday afternoon – just hours before “the land was ablaze with 20-foot flames”. He claims to have found the remnants of cigarettes he believes may have caused the blaze. He said: "When the fire moved on, it left behind something that looked liked a scorched desert. “That’s when we found fag ends absolutely everywhere.
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Image copyright @Carnforth_Fire Image caption Twelve fire engines remain at the scene
A man has been arrested on suspicion of starting a moorland blaze on Winter Hill in Lancashire, close to a TV transmitter mast.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service went to the moorland fire on the hill near Bolton at 15:20 BST on Thursday.
A 22-year-old man from Bolton is being held as part of a joint investigation between the fire service and police.
Greater Manchester Fire Service said it was tackling a second fire in Bolton which broke out on Friday morning.
Lancashire fire crews, who had been in a reserve role supporting colleagues in Greater Manchester dealing with a huge blaze near Saddleworth Moor, were moved to the Winter Hill fire on Thursday evening.
The fire, which crews were expected to be at until Saturday, covers an area of about 1.5 sq miles (4 sq km).
Image copyright @LythamFire Image caption About 100 firefighters have been tackling the fire
Work on the Saddleworth fire, which spread across 7 sq miles (18 sq km), saw soldiers from A Company of the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, join firefighters on Thursday.
Eighteen fire engines remain at the scene on Winter Hill, including crews from Cumbria and Merseyside, alongside specialist wildlife units.
About 100 firefighters, who resumed their work at first light, are being assisted by mountain rescue officers and a helicopter from water firm United Utilities (UU).
The aircraft will be taking water from the nearby Rivington Reservoir to drop on the affected area.
A fire service spokesman said while there was no immediate risk to livestock, domestic properties or infrastructure, people living nearby should keep windows and doors closed.
The latest fire to affect moorland around Greater Manchester broke near to Horrocks Moor Farm on Scout Road at 02:00 BST.
Fifty firefighters were at the scene of the fire, which spanned 2km in length.
A series of "apocalyptic" wildfires on the Pennine moors could take weeks to put out, the fire service has warned, after a second major blaze broke out just 30 miles from a fire that has raged for days.
Seven square miles of Saddleworth Moor has gone up in flames, blanketing the Greater Manchester region and beyond in smoke and ash. Fire chiefs are considering setting fire to Saddleworth to create brakes to stop the out-of-control blaze, amid fears that trapped industrial pollution in the peat could be released into the air.
Scottish soldiers from the 100-strong A Company of the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, known as the Highlanders, have joined more than 100 firefighters who have been battling the blaze since Sunday, leading to a "significant improvement".
Meanwhile, a new moorland blaze - on Winter Hill, near Rivington, Lancashire - broke out on Thursday with huge plumes of smoke visible from the area surrounding the moorland.
Fifteen fire engines from Lancashire Fire and Rescue spent the night on the moors preventing the fire, near Bolton, from spreading further.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire broke out on moorland near Bolton.
The police and fire service have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the blaze on Winter Hill in Lancashire, which emergency crews have been battling to stop spreading since Thursday.
A 22-year-old from Bolton has been held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
The fire started around 30 miles (50km) from a large blaze on Saddleworth Moor, which has been raging since Sunday.
0:44 Video: Troops help fight Saddleworth fire
Flames covering seven square miles on Saddleworth have covered the Greater Manchester region in smoke and ash.
Soldiers have joined firefighters in trying to contain the fire.
Resources have been further stretched with another fire at Higher Swineshaw, near Stalybridge.
Image: Soldiers joined the firefighting effort on Saddleworth Moor
The fires have been exacerbated by extremely hot weather, making them more difficult to put out.
The UK enjoyed the hottest day of the year on Thursday as the temperature soared to 33C (91.4F).
Porthmadog in Wales reached the sweltering high, beating successive highs since Monday.
Tony Hunter, assistant chief fire officer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said there had been a "significant" improvements in tackling the blaze on Saddleworth Moor.
But Mr Hunter warned that while the fire was now "contained and under control", "things can develop" and if the wind blows the flames back on to the moors it will act as a "fuel source" for the fire.
Image: The authorities say a downpour of rain is needed
Mr Hunter said a "significant downpour of rain" would help - but none is forecast for days as the heatwave continues into the weekend.
It has been warned the fires could take weeks to put out.
