Cottages and farms threatened by moorland fires above Littleborough

Littleborough Moorland Fire

Cottages and farm buildings on moorland above Littleborough are being protected from moorland fires by "strategically positioned fire engines".

Fire crews are using water to defend and protect neighbouring property, and to tackle the pockets of fire which cover around five hectares of land.

Six GMFRS fire engines and an Operational Support Unit were called to land behind The Summit Pub on Todmorden Road at 7.32pm on Tuesday 7 May.

In addition, a fire engine from Rochdale and one from Littleborough joined six fire engines from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in tackling pockets of moorland fire.

Station Manager Pete Buckley said: “We are protecting a small number of remote cottages and farm buildings from the wildfires.

“Firefighters have withdrawn from the hillside for safety reasons in the darkness and have redeployed to protect these isolated local buildings with strategically positioned fire engines.

“Monitoring any fire spread through the night they will use a protective spray of water around the buildings to defend the properties and will continue to fight the fires on the hillside safely within daylight hours.”