Happiness is a much sought after thing so I am delighted to give you what you crave for :
When fire on Saddleworth Moor finally goes out residents could face flooding
Thanks for that, and about time too. Personally I don't see nearly enough support for the fire services here, and the only people that can be blamed for that are the politicians at all levels. Seeing Burnham interviewed saying he was going to talk to the Home Secretary seemed arse about face, talk to him first, tell him what's required, then do an interview explaining what additional support has been agreed, and the timescale on the delivery of it. When the first call for help went out, the army was there within 24-48 hours, but that was 5 or 6 days ago, and things have got worst, with reports this morning saying fire fighters & troops are still being pushed to their limits.
It's all very well saying whatever support that is required will be provided, and paid for at national level, but why has so little been provided? Why have no extra troops been provided in the last 5 days? I struggle with the idea that Manchester and Lancashire Fire Services are happy with the support they have so far, when fire fighters are having to work long hellish shifts, reports mentioning shifts of between 12 & 22 hours!
Manchester Fire Chiefs, in particular, seem to be struggling with logistics, they don't even seem capable of providing basics like food & drinking water for the fire fighters (see link below), they clearly need more military support to get on top of the situation. It makes my blood boil that the limited numbers on the ground are being put under so much pressure, resources should be flowing into the area - FFS it's two major incidents, yet no one seems to have a grip on it.
Watching reports on the Winter Hill fire yesterday, and hearing things like fire-fighters having to walk 20 to 30 minutes to get to the fire. Why hasn't specialist vehicles and/or more helicopters been provided to get them that last mile or so? Discussions about moving the military support from Saddlemoor to Winter Hill, despite them still being needed at Saddlemmor. Why hasn't more military support not been provided? Why haven't more portable pumps been brought in? FFS, when I lived in Somerset, I regularly witnessed portable pumps with miles of piping being brought in to assist the static pumping stations during heavy flooding. Looking at google maps, there seems plenty of lakes within a mile or so of the fires, so why aren't these pumps being moved up there?
The answer to all of these things seem a lack of co-ordination & logistics, something the military are experts at, they need to take over all control, sourcing equipment from across the country, or even bringing it in from other countries* if required, and moving it to where it's required. *This happened one year in Somerset, when flooding was so bad, additional portable pumps were brought in from Holland.
Firefighters are being "pushed to their limits" with some working 17-hour shifts without a break to tackle moorland fires, claim union leaders
A whistleblower said he was "furious" as bosses have made "basic errors" and provided "absolutely nothing" leaving them reliant on donations for supplies. GMFRS said it was "doing its best".
The whistleblower, who has been tackling the blaze near Saddleworth Moor and who does not want to be named, claims his managers were guilty of "basic errors of judgement".
"The management is seriously lacking" with bosses "burying their heads in the sand", he said.
Worth reading the whole report -
Moor wildfire crews 'pushed to limits' - this is totally fucking unacceptable.
I am sure the managers are doing their best, but sadly that's clearly not good enough, they need expert military logistic support to assist those on the ground at present, and get on top of this environmental disaster.
/rant over.
