British army called in to help tackle moorland fire
A helicopter drops water as firefighters tackle a blaze on Saddleworth Moor, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble
CARRBROOK, England (Reuters) - The army was called in to help battle a moorland blaze on Wednesday which has been spreading for days in hot weather near Manchester, northern England.
Soldiers will operate high-volume pumps and help move firefighters move across Saddleworth moor, Greater Manchester assistant chief fire officer Dave Keelan said.
"We have been liaising with a military adviser on the scene and ... have requested military assistance." Keelan said.
A moor fire is seen near Carrbrook, Britain June 26, 2018 in this still image taken from a video obtained from social media on June 27, 2018. SEAN QUARMBY/via REUTERS
The fire has been declared a major incident. Local schools were closed on Wednesday with residents advised to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed. More than 100 firefighters and 29 fire engines are trying to bring the blaze under control.
But an improvement in air quality in the area allowed residents to return to some 34 houses that had been evacuated.
"There's still a lot of smoke from the fire but air quality levels are being monitored regularly in different locations. Air quality is currently at a safe level and therefore residents have been let back into their homes," Keelan said.
Smoke from a moor fire is seen near Carrbrook, Britain June 26, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media on June 27, 2018. SEAN QUARMBY/via REUTERS
Like most of Britain, the area has experienced hot weather in recent days and forecasters expect temperatures to remain high for the rest of the week.
The cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.
A moor fire is seen near Carrbrook, Britain June 26, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media on June 27, 2018. SEAN QUARMBY/via REUTERS
(Reporting by Phil Noble; writing by Sarah Young; editing by Stephen Addison)
A Police Community Support officer wears a protective face mask as she stands at a cordon near a large fire on moorland above Carrwood, Britain June 27, 2018. REUTERS/StringerA helicopter drops water as firefighters tackle a blaze on Saddleworth Moor, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleA firefighter works at fire on a moor above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleA Police Community Support officer wears a protective face mask as she stands at a cordon near a large fire on moorland above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer Firefighters work at fire on a moor above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleA Police Community Support officer wears a protective face mask as she stands at a cordon near a large fire on moorland above Carrwood, Britain June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer A firefighter hoses a fire on a moor above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleA firefighter works at fire on a moor above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleA firefighter hoses a fire on a moor above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleA firefighter works at fire on a moor above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleFirefighters rest after tackling a fire on a moor above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleA moor fire burns above Carrwood, near Manchester Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleA firefighter hoses a fire on a moor above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleA firefighter hoses a fire on a moor above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleA view of a fire at a moor in Manchester, Britain June 27, 2018, in this picture obtained from social media. INSTAGRAM @c1aran97/via REUTERS A fire smoulders behind evacuated homes on a moor above Carrwood, Britain, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble
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