Fire service issues warning after moorland blaze

Fire crews battled for four hours to bring a blaze under control on moors close to a wind turbine farm in Lancashire.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) said its crews were alerted shortly before18:00 GMT on Monday to a fire on Scout Moor in Rossendale. Firefighters were also assisted by heavy overnight rain.

A joint investigation will now take place with the police as to how the fire started on Gin Croft Lane near Edenfield.

LFRS warned people not to create fires on moorland adding such incidents place people, property, and large areas of land at significant risk and divert valuable and limited emergency resources away from other incidents.

Daniel Matchett, Reform UK county councillor for Whitworth & Bacup said there are two fires being dealt with, one covering approximately two hectares (five acres), and a larger fire, covering around four hectares (10 acres), which required the deployment of an all-terrain vehicle specifically used for tackling moorland fires.

Crews also made use of infrared drone technology to help identify hotspots and monitor the spread of the fire but the emergency service said high winds had made aspects of the task difficult.

He added: "Lancashire is leading the way in deploying this kind of advanced technology to support firefighting efforts."

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