Stalybridge fire – Huge blaze breaks out on Manchester moors just eight months after Saddleworth inferno

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue confirmed crews are tackling the large blaze raging in the darkness.

The fire appears to have started at about 9.30pm, with no confirmed cause yet.

It is thought the blaze could have rapidly spread due to wind.

The fire service urged people not to call 999 as they are aware of the fire, adding: "We are working extremely hard and making every effort to bring this fire under control this evening."

Crews from Ashton, Stalybridge, Hyde, Oldham and Bolton North are using specialist moorland firefighting gear to control the blaze.

Four fire engines and two Wildfire Units have been sent up to the moor to tackle it.

One person tweeted: "My dad witnessed the start of it, said it literally came out of nowhere, so much so he thought an aircraft had crashed into the hillside.

"I hope this isn't true and nobody is hurt."

Another said: "Large moor fire on hills above Stalybridge at the moment.

"Fire seemed to start around half an hour ago and spread quite quickly.

"Firefighters appear to be at the top of the hill battling the blaze."

'IT LITERALLY CAME OUT OF NOWHERE'

A worried witness added: "I'm seeing a big fire on the moors up around Stalybridge. not again please?"

While another said: "Our moors and its eco system are still trying to recover from the horrific moorland fires in the summer and now this!

"It's close to nesting season soon for the birds. I hope the wildlife has managed to escape this time."

It comes just eight months after a huge wildfire burned for six days on Saddleworth Moor and forced families to flee their homes.

Firefighters were called to a wildfire on the moor near Buckton Vale at 8.19pm on June 24.

They worked with a local gamekeeper to put out the flames in a couple of hours.

But amid a scorching heatwave, dry grass reignited and emergency crews battled to contain fire in several locations across Saddleworth Moor.

About 100 homes were evacuated as the fire spread to 3.7 miles.



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