Police have issued a warning ahead of a potentially unprecedented heatwave following a series of moorland bushfires near Manchester which are now believed to have been started deliberately.
The fire started last weekend and engulfed part of Saddleworth Moor near a car park near Dovestone Reservoir.
On Saturday, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said a joint investigation with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) had so far found there were five outbreaks of fire with traces of accelerant found on three of the seats.
Supt Phillip Hutchinson, from GMP Oldham area, said there was a public space protection order in Saddleworth Moor and it was a criminal offense to light fires in the area, including barbecues. Breaching the order can result in a fine of £1,000.
“Investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for starting these fires, which could have a devastating impact on the land, wildlife and residents who live in the surrounding area.” Anyone with information please share as soon as possible.
“Just days before this fire we attended an event where we spoke to members of the public about how to use the area in the summer. Unfortunately, during this event, our officers observed individuals posing a risk, which resulted in three fixed penalty tickets being issued.
“I am asking members of the public who frequent the area and residents who live around it to report anyone they suspect of planning an illegal barbecue or committing any other crime.”
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Jim Willmott, GMFRS group manager for Bury, Oldham and Rochdale, said: “It’s hard to see why anyone would want to deliberately start a fire in marshy areas, but unfortunately it does happen and when conditions are so dry they grow quickly and easy to control.
“For those who think this is a good idea, you should know that it not only destroys valuable wetlands, but also puts native wildlife and people at risk, causing huge disruption and means our resources are often not in able to attend other serious incidents.”
Anyone with information should contact GMP or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Emergency services across the country have revealed cases of fires started by arsonists in recent days.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said on Friday they had been called to deal with 66 outdoor fires over a seven-day period and urged the public to dispose of their rubbish responsibly, not to barbecue outdoors or start fires.
Essex County Fire and Rescue said two acres of woods and brush were damaged in Friday’s second fire in a week, which they said was intentionally started.
On Facebook, a fire service spokesman said: “Two acres of woodland and scrub in Heybridge have been damaged following a fire. The cause of the fire was registered as intentional.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said they usually see an increase in arson during the summer months.
He added: “You can help us prevent them by contacting FireStoppers. Run by CrimeStoppers, FireStoppers is an anonymous way to report what you know about arson in your area.
“It’s not about reporting any fault, it’s about us preventing fires from happening.”
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service has also urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to the police.
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