Firefighters battle wildfire on moorland just a few miles north of Bolton

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Firefighters tackled a huge wildfire on moorland north of Bolton this evening. Crews raced to the scene of a spreading blaze near Darwen Moor Tower, Darwen on Thursday (May 19), which scorched 1,000 square metres of land.

A total of six fire engines were at scene of the blaze, with the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service warning people to avoid the area while they attempted to bring the fire under control.

Those living nearby were urged to keep their windows and doors closed. The moors, which sit just a few miles north of Bolton, were also ravaged by week-long fires in May and June 2020, taking crews more than 160 hours to eventually bring under control after two people had taken a disposable BBQ onto the grassy moors and lit it despite warnings on the packaging. READ MORETwo rushed to hospital as woman cut from car and road closed after major crash Pictures showed thick clouds of smoke ascending over the moor throughout Thursday evening.

It is not thought any damage has been caused to Darwen Tower, which is set to be unveiled to the public on June 2 for its second royal Jubilee after a year-long restoration.