Firefighters tackling a huge moorland blaze north of Bolton had to divert resources last night (May 31) to put out a campfire at a nearby wood.
Officers were called to an area off Dimple Road, close to Delph reservoir, in Egerton following reports a group of up to 10 'trespassing' youths had gathered and started a fire, Lancs Live reports.
Pictures shared on social media show how a large dry stone wall was dismantled to make a bench around the camp fire.
One of the stones was graffitied with the name 'Kirk' and an appeal has been launched to find the culprits.
At the time of the incident dozens of firefighters were battling a huge moorland fire on Bolton Road in Darwen.
Ivan Hamnett, who posted the pictures of the camp fire and wall damage on Facebook, said by the time police and firefighters arrived the youths had run away.
He wrote: "Yet another fire in the local area last night in the woods at Delph reservoir off Dimple Road. 8/10 youths had a big camp fire.
"As the pictures show they destroyed 17 metres of a 100 year old dry stone wall to make a bench.
"They also took down a gate to make another seating area.
"The fire brigade and police arrived but the kids must have heard them coming and ran off before they got to the scene to put the fire out.
"These kids were trespassing, they have caused criminal damage, put lives at risk and used up the valuable time of the emergency services.
"The firemen who attended asked me to put a post on local social media appealing to parents of youths in the area to speak to their kids about the dangers of having camp fires/ barbecues outside especially in this dry weather."
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called to an area close to Delph Reservoir on Sunday night.
