Firefighters join national effort to tackle moorland fires

Firefighters from across Nottinghamshire have been assisting colleagues from Lancashire and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services this weekend in dealing with two of the largest moorland fires in recent years.

The NFRS welfare unit was mobilised on Thursday (June 28) to provide welfare to crews and partner agencies on Saddleworth Moor – with some members of the crew, which was made up of on-call firefighters, booking annual leave from their day jobs to attend.

Crews from Bingham and Southwell are among crews from Nottinghamshire who have travelled up to Saddleworth Moor after a request for assistance was made to fire and rescue services across the country.

A crew from Collingham travelled to Lancashire to assist with the Winter Hill blaze and will be returning tonight after spending 48 hours at the scene.

Firefighter Jonathan Redmile, a crew member from Collingham, has made national headlines after saving a bird found among the smouldering flames

Damien West, Group Manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We have not seen fires of this size and scale in this country for many years.

“That is why we were more than happy to help our colleagues in Greater Manchester and Lancashire in bringing these deep-seated fires under control and we will continue to do so in the coming days.

“I am immensely proud of the efforts of all the firefighters, from Nottinghamshire and beyond, who have worked long hours in gruelling conditions to keep our communities safe.”