Huge Fire in Littleborough?

Someone just posted on Facebook that they could see a huge fire in Littleborough from their home in Wardle....anyone else seen it?

No, but there was a big moorland fire at Blackstone Edge, perhaps it was that.

I presume that was it Cyfrifia....no other fire reported.

That's Facebook for you!

It wasn't a particularly big moorland fire either but dangerous because of the high winds:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/79576/crews-spent-another-night-tackling-a-moorland-fire-in-littleborough

Burning again.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/80148/cottages-and-farms-threatened-by-moorland-fires-above-littleborough

These moorland fires are destructive of the environment. Because 'controlled' fires were used for some farming methods in the past, people may think they are 'good for the land', just the opposite.

We forget that we live in one of the most deforested and misused environments in the world. People worry about deforestation in the Amazon, as they should, but Britain was deforested in the bronze age, many centuries ago, and has never really recovered.

Because our forests are so artificial and depleted, that's why tree diseases from Europe can do so much damage.

Another mistaken idea that is that trees can't grow on the moors above the 'tree line'. The tree line in the UK isn't a fixed line, it moves up higher when there are more trees. The real meaning of a 'tree line' is in really high altitude mountains.

I'm saw the smoke last night as I drove home last night. Hopefully the change in weather may prevent any further outbreaks.

Charly wrote:I've just seen that same photo of the fire on BBC news, is it one of yours J?

No Charly, GMFRS.