Saddleworth Moor fire is getting serious...

[spitfire]

Whilst I understand that the salvation army is deserving of the gallows humour, I have to praise them for the work they do supporting emergency operations. I have first hand reports, from firefighters especially, about how they turn up and provide sandwiches, drinks, and comfort. They never get recognition for this, and actively avoid it. I have no doubt they'll be there as long as they are needed.

They have a long and distinguished history of doing exactly as you say.

Supporting the emergency services | The Salvation Army

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

This is a remarkable photograph

 

[8ball]

This is a remarkable photograph

Ooh. Suit you, madam.

 

[dessiato]

They have a long and distinguished history of doing exactly as you say.

Supporting the emergency services | The Salvation Army

They're a funny bunch, but do some good.

 

[likesfish]

Peats a complete sod to put even if its a tiny fire

 

[spitfire]

Multi post!

 

[cupid_stunt]

Peats a complete sod ...

Brilliant pun!

 

[LDC]

When the zombie apocalypse film '28 Days Later' first came out I was watching it at the cinema in Leeds, and there's a scene where the main characters are fleeing London for the north. As they come up the motorway and are approaching Manchester they just see the glow of a huge fire in the sky over the city, and someone utters something like, "Manchester's on fire" in a hushed and terrified tone... which was met with a spontaneous and very loud cheer throughout the auditorium I was in.

It's things like that that make one proud to be British.

 

[Red Sky]

Clearing moors for grouse shooting creates a tinderbox | George Monbiot

 

[The39thStep]

This is a remarkable photograph

Copyright Scarfolk Council

 

[cupid_stunt]

The fire on moorland above Manchester could take weeks to put out, according to the Greater Manchester fire and rescue.
Fire near Saddleworth Moor could take weeks to put out

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I'm also in central Manchester, about 16 miles away from the Saddleworth Moor fire, my windows have been open all day and night as it's too hot, and the smell this morning is much, much stronger.

Previously, the smell was more feint, like a vague neighbour had a barbecue going (but more of a woody smell than a barbecue one). Now it's as if the immediate neighbour had barbecues right outside your window, the smell is really permeating indoors now.

It must be the vagaries of the wind. The smell was much stronger yesterday all across town and where I live, but much less today, for me at least.

 

[AnandLeo]

I saw on TV news, a helicopter is water bombing the fire with water from a nearby reservoir. I was long awaiting to see this, having heard the anxiety. Now the army is involved, I wonder what other tactics they are able to deploy with the fire brigade.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I saw on TV news, a helicopter is water bombing the fire with water from a nearby reservoir. I was long awaiting to see this, having heard the anxiety. Now the army is involved, I wonder what other tactics they are able to deploy with the fire brigade.

It appears just one helicopter is doing that, on loan from United Utilities.

But, as others have pointed out, water from the sky will have limited impact, because it's a peat moor, and peat can burn deep under the surface. They thought they had put the fire out last Sunday, but it was still burning underground, and took hold overground again on Monday.

Having lived in Ireland, with peat as our prime fuel for the open fire, and back boiler for water & rads, I can confirm it burns bloody well.

Smells nice too, compared to a coal fire.

 

[cupid_stunt]

It looks like a tiny bucket, and loads of the water is lost before it even gets to the target...

 

[kebabking]

The RAF can do water bombing, but it has limited effect in peat fires, and the GMFR would much prefer to use helicopters to get the big water pumps and likes of hoses to where they need to be on the moor - while the united utilities helicopter is genuinely doing good work with water bombing, it's making a virtue out of a necessity: it's not powerful enough to do the heavy lifting that the Chinook(s) do, and it doesn't have the sensors to see where and how the fire is spreading underground, so it's doing what's left...

The RAF have generated 3 more Chinooks to operate from either Manchester Airport or Leeds/Bradford (smoke dependant) from Sunday (if required) and the Army have generated another 300 soldiers to directly help GMFR, with another 120 to provide engineering support (roads, bridges, pumps, firebreaks etc..), and 120 to provide catering, accommodation, and 8x8 lorries for log apt. If needed...

 

[cupid_stunt]

It's one of those occasions when I need to watch the local news for the area, BBC 1 North-West is on Freesat channel 955, or channel 958 on Sky.

 

[chilango]

If this was the Chilterns there be a National State of Emergency declared, Theresa May would be on the front line with her watering can, BBC One would have rolling coverage and there'd be a benefit concert in Twickenham to raise funds for the displaced racehorses.

 

[cupid_stunt]

BBC 1 North-West is reporting an unconnected big fire at Winter Hill, miles away, near Bolton is causing concern.

Copycat fire?

ETA - New moorland fire breaks out on Winter Hill - live updates

“We have been alerted to news of a fire on high land at Smithills near the TV mast which is rapidly spreading. We are working with the emergency services and local landowners but would advise people to stay away from the area in the meantime.”

 

[Glitter]

Jesus has a Costco card!

That was Bruce Wayne!

 

[kebabking]

BBC 1 North-West is reporting an unconnected big fire at Winter Hill, miles away, near Bolton is causing concern.

Copycat fire?

ETA - New moorland fire breaks out on Winter Hill - live updates


View attachment 139312

Could be - they've got footage of a bunch of 8/9 year olds lighting it.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

One report suggested the fire was satrted by off road bikers. One village is now preparing for evacuation. Apparantly the Salvation Army have given out to firefighters 1,000 drinks, 600 Mars Bars and used 40 loaves of bread . Fair play to them I did'nt know they got involved in that sort of stuff.

They’re still anti-worker cunts though (or have been historically).

 

[Magnus McGinty]

This is a remarkable photograph

It doesn’t look set up at all!

 

[PursuedByBears]

BBC 1 North-West is reporting an unconnected big fire at Winter Hill, miles away, near Bolton is causing concern.

Copycat fire?

ETA - New moorland fire breaks out on Winter Hill - live updates


View attachment 139312

I drove past this on the way down to Manchester earlier tonight. There's loads of smoke drifting over Horwich and the M61

 

[The39thStep]

Do you think there would be more media coverage if this fire was near London?

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Do you think there would be more media coverage if this fire was near London?

London had a fire once.

 

[josef1878 2.0]

Could be - they've got footage of a bunch of 8/9 year olds lighting it.

Winter Hill usually burns in hot weather. I've seen it a lot worse in the last few years

 

[likesfish]

Copyright Scarfolk Council

somebody's fetish gear has come out of the cellar
east german surplus if I'm not mistaken

 

[cupid_stunt]

Do you think there would be more media coverage if this fire was near London?

More?

It's a major story on BBC & Sky news channels, with regular live reports, and every national newspaper is reporting on it.

 

[The39thStep]

More?

It's a major story on BBC & Sky news channels, with regular live reports, and every national newspaper is reporting on it.

it is now but wasnt at first