Saddleworth Moor fire which has raged for 10 days treated as arson as cops probe bonfire spotted on evening blaze broke out
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The huge inferno at Saddleworth Moor is being treated as arson as investigators probe a bonfire spotted nearby the evening it started.
The fire has raged since the evening of Sunday June 24 with the army being drafted in to help firefighters due to the 'unprecedented scale' of the blaze.
Although now under control, the fire is continuing to burn despite the best efforts of all those involved.
Witnesses reported people lighting a bonfire at around 7.30pm the night fire started on the moors near the Stalybridge estate.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police are currently pursuing this as a possible line of enquiry.
(Image: PA)
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Chief Superintendent Neil Evans, Territorial Policing Commander for Tameside, said: “The moorland fire is now being investigated as arson following information from local witnesses and initial inquiries.”
“The scale of this fire is exceptional and we are treating it with the utmost seriousness.
“That said, we are under no illusion that solid evidence as to where the fire started and what was the cause, will not be easy to establish.
(Image: Handout)
(Image: Handout)
(Image: PA)
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“The areas we have been able to look include dusty ash, burnt peat and grass and, because of this, our work with the fire service will be painstaking.
“We recognise the incredible support that the emergency services have received and we now hope that the local community can help us further by getting in touch with any information that could help our investigation.
“Were you on the moors last Sunday and did you see anything that could help us understand exactly what happened?
“If you know anything, no matter how small, it could help our investigation so please get in touch.”