Fire still smouldering on Winter Hill, despite several days of rain

Fire chiefs say the emergency response is progressing steadily to conclusion, as remaining and isolated residual ‘hot spots’ of burning peat being extinguished.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesman John Taylor said: “Rain has been sporadic and of insufficient volume to do the job, and it often entails digging down to the burning peat to ensure water reaches it.

“Three Hagglund articulated tracked all-terrain vehicles have been used in addition to 4 X 4 off-road vehicles to convey firefighters, water and equipment to hot-spots identified by a combination of visual signs (smoke) and the heat-mapping provided by LFRS drones using infra-red camera detection.”

Mr Taylor added: “A major task has been the recovery of hundreds of lengths of water hoses from the site.

“They have been collected and taken to our Training Centre to be tested, washed and stored on pallets for issue or repair. They include hoses left by other Fire and Rescue Services involved in the incident response, and these will be returned to them in due course.”

A Team Leader from Bolton Mountain Rescue, who was involved in the operation, added: “I think one of the huge successes of this incident was the communication with the public and the way the public co-operated by staying away from the scene for their safety and to avoid hindering the incident response.”