Investigation launched after several moor fires break out in Saddleworth

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

An investigation has been launched after several moor fires broke out in Saddleworth. Firefighters were called out to three blazes near Chew reservoir in Greenfield in the early hours of Monday.

Around the same times crews were also battling a fire at the remote Yeoman Hey Reservoir, off Holmfirth Road in Greenfield. A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "Firefighters were called out to a number of moorland fires in the Saddleworth area in the early hours of the morning on Monday July 18. Read more: Boy, 16, who drowned in Salford Quays named as tributes pour in "In total, eight fire engines, from across the region – as well as a Haglund Wildfire Unit – have been at Chew Reservoir, Greenfield, at various points throughout the night and morning to tackle three seats of fire on moorland. "After being called out at 1.30am, fire crews remain at the scene and are using hose reels and beaters to control some remaining small pockets of fires.

Three fire engines also attended a different fire at Yeoman Hey Reservoir, Greenfield just after 1am. "Firefighters used hose reels and beaters to extinguish the fire which involved felled trees and bracken and spent half an hour at the scene.

Investigations into the cause of the fires will be carried out." It comes a week after a joint police and fire service investigation was launched following a series of fires at nearby Dovestonbes reservoir which were suspected to have been started deliberately.