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Moorland fire 'caused by cigarette'

28/05/2008

A raging moorland fire that sent smoke over north-east Manchester over the Bank Holiday is thought to have been caused by a careless smoker.

The inferno swallowed up 300 acres of Marsden Moor, causing massive damage to the land and imperilling the lives of wildlife and birds.

Firefighters from West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester worked together to bring the fire under control.

A separate blaze near Rochdale was also tackled by firefighters, who had to contend with strong and changing winds.

Gemma Wren, the countryside manager at Marsden Moor, said: "We have yet to fully gain access to the area following the fire but I'm already saddened by the prospect of what faces the team up there."

There have been reports that a small number of firefighters received minor injuries tackling the blazes.