Another moorland fire breaks out near Oldham after 'hottest day of year'
Pictures and videos taken off Holmfirth Road showed the scorched ground and fire raging on near Diggle and Dovestones on Sunday (March 9).
The cause of the blaze has not been confirmed, but the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said two fire engines were called to the moor to dampen the flames.
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Videos shared with the M.E.N show a moorland fire this evening near Diggle in Oldham.Nick Moore@MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/NwAlDlbaPC
— James Holt - M.E.N (@jameshjourno) March 9, 2025
The Met Office announced that Sunday had been the hottest day of 2025 so far in the UK, with temperatures reaching between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius across Greater Manchester.
It comes just days after another moorland fire broke out in the same area on Wednesday (March 5), with local residents urged to keep their windows and doors shut as plumes of smoke covered the area.
Dramatic pictures last week showed a huge wall of orange flames, with a sea of blue lights towards the bottom of the hill in the Huddersfield Road and Holmfirth Road areas.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: 'Just before 6.30pm this evening (Sunday 9th March), two fire engines from Mossley and Stalybridge fire station were call about reports of a fire near the moor off Holmfirth Road, Greenfield.
'Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighter are using fire beaters and other specialist equipment to extinguish the fire. Firefighters have been in attendance for around forty minutes and are still at the scene.'
The GMFRS wildfire campaign (Be Moor Aware) aims to prevent moorland fires and wildfires, and to reduce the impact which they have on the service, communities, businesses and the environment.
Members of the public are asked to 'act responsibly' on the moors and not start fires, BBQs or use fireworks. People are asked to dipose of all litter and not discard used cigarettes. Consequences of starting a fire can result in a fine and/or prison
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