Firefighters are debating igniting deliberate blazes to control the spread of flames as the crisis enters its sixth day.
Soldiers from 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland and an RAF Chinook helicopter are remaining on hand to help fight the flames.
The inferno has now spread across seven square miles of moorland, with fears from wildlife experts about the devastating impact on the local ecosystem.
The National Fire Chiefs Council Wildfire Group have said it was considering ‘defensive burning’ to bring the fire under control.
It is thought the Army might be asked to create trenches around the perimeter of the fire to stop further spreading, a tactic used to fight wildfires in Scotland.
Firefighters beat down flames on Winter Hill near Bolton, where a second huge fire has sparked into life
Fire chiefs have insisted they have not yet established what caused Sunday’s blaze on the moor and yesterday’s fire at Winter Hill, an hour’s drive away.
But locals are convinced bikers discarding their used cigarettes are to blame, with one farmer branding them ‘stupid, brainless idiots’.
Farmer James Crowther, 30, who farms 5,000 acres in the area posted on Facebook: ‘Well done to the stupid idiots on motorbikes, who decided to break on to private land, use it as an off road course then set fire to it afterwards.
‘No respect whatsoever and left others fighting a losing battle trying to get it out!’
Speaking to the Mirror, he added that he saw bikers there on Sunday afternoon: ‘Two hours later the land was ablaze with 20-foot flames.
‘When the fire moved on, it left behind something that looked liked a scorched desert.
‘That’s when we found fag ends absolutely everywhere. What sort of brainless idiot throws a fag end down in the grass on the hottest day of the year?’
The blazes are so bad the RAF and the Army have been hauled in to get the flames under control.
Emergency services worked into the night on Thursday to get the fires at Saddleworth Moors under control
The Army and RAF joined firefighters on the fifth day to combat the epic inferno which has savaged the popular beauty spot nestled in the Pennies, Greater Manchester
Horrific images reveal the extent of the damage with a scorched lamb tragically found stranded on the burning landscape
Inferno: A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire Service told MailOnline the fire was very much still ongoing at Wednesday lunchtime
Military personnel arrive to assist as firefighters tackle a wildfire on Saddleworth Moor near Manchester after five days of firefighters valiant efforts to stop the spread of the wildfire
Residents were being evacuated from Carrbrook village as fire headed towards their homes
The RAF and the British Army have been called in to help firefighters battle 20ft flames on Saddleworth Moor. Helicopters have been pictured dropping gallons of water onto the flames in a bid to halt their spread, amid suggestions from locals that off-road motorcyclists riding the moorlands on Sunday ignited the blaze
The first fire on Saddleworth Moor spread quickly sending huge plumes of smoke into the air, five days ago.
Farmers rushed to their land to attempt to save their livestock on the Pennine Moors while emergency services have spent almost a week fighting the fire.
Animals have been killed and the land decimated by the flames, while the smoke can be seen for miles around and more than 30 homes have been evacuated.
A second blaze broke out on Thursday and huge plumes of smoke were seen rising above Winter Hill in Horwich, about an hour’s drive from the Moor.
Fire chiefs have warned the Saddleworth Moor blaze could rage for weeks as temperatures continue to climb.
Yesterday the Army and RAF joined firefighters on the fifth day to combat the epic inferno which has savaged the popular beauty spot nestled in the Pennies, Greater Manchester.
Armed forces were called in on the fifth day of the fight against the fire on the Pennine Moors – as an hour away another blaze started
Huge plumes of smoke rise from Winter Hill in Horwich, Greater Manchester, as the county deals with its second huge blaze in just five days
Smoke rises about Winter Hill in Horwich – just an hour’s drive from Saddleworth Moor – as the county deals with a huge grass fire
Horrific: A tragic photograph of a scorched ram – alive but stranded – on the devastated moorland in Greater Manchester
Angela, 37, Mike, 39, Charlie, five, and Max Bevin, two, were evacuated from their home by police knocking the door in masks
Day five: Seven fire trucks parked up in a position of safety on the gigantic moors as around 100 firefighters continue to tackle the inferno
Scottish soldiers from the 100-strong A Company of the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, known as the Highlanders, have now joined more than 100 firefighters who have been battling the blaze since Sunday.
Horrific photographs reveal the extent of the damage with a scorched lamb tragically found stranded on the burning landscape.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Manchester Fire Assistant Chief Fire Officer Tony Hunter said the blaze is being fought from six locations and that a wind change could provide more fuel for the fire.
He added: ‘Our main action is to protect to the left-hand side to stop it spreading towards the residents, and to the right-hand side to make sure it doesn’t go – if there is a wind change over the next couple of hours – into that unburnt material.’
Brenda Warrington, leader of Tameside Borough Council added: ‘We have no idea how long this situation will continue because the weather will determine that. One thing we need is a really, really good downpour, sustained for quite some time. The fire and rescue lads are doing everything they can to contain it and protect us but we do need Mother Nature to help us.’ – Brenda Warrington, leader of Tameside Borough Council on the Saddleworth Moor fire.
Military assistance: Soldiers from the 4th Battalion Royal Regiment Scotland head out near Swineshaw reservoir
In action: A helicopter deployed to assist drops litres of water across the smouldering wasteland on Thursday afternoon
On hand: A soldier steps in to help assist a firefighter who was pictured spraying water onto the charred landscape
A helicopter collects water as firefighters tackle the wildfire on Saddleworth Moor near Manchester where a moorland blaze has been alight for five days
A helicopter drops water as firefighters continue to tackle a blaze on Saddleworth Moor, Britain
Drafted in: Army soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland arrive on Saddleworth Moor to help fight the seven-mile blaze
Private helicopters fill up near the Chew Reservoir before preparing to dowse the moorland in water
Explaining how the Army are helping at Saddleworth Moor, Major Phil Morgan, said: ‘Right now we have 100 people tasked to do this mission and support the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
‘Currently we have broken our boys down into various locations and we are beating the fire with paddles and we are supporting them by moving equipment, we are putting water on the fires and we are doing everything we can to stop this fire at the moment.’
He added: ‘It looks at the moment like we will be here for another 48 hours, until Saturday evening. And then we will wait for another Maca – Military Aid to the Civilian Authorities – request to go through.
‘If that is the case then we will continue on task until our command decides otherwise.’
Non-stop: Firefighters at the scene of the moorland fire this morning as the blaze enters its fifth day
As scores of military and emergency service personel continue their efforts on the moors, attention has turned to the wildlife and moorland animals ravaged in the fire’s wake.
A lone sheep was spotted wandering across the charred moorland with its fleece badly singed by the flames.
Hillwalker Paul Benjamin, 29, came across the badly burned sheep which was making a rattling breathing noise like that of an ’80-year-old smoker’.
He said: ‘It was stood near some smouldering ground on the top hill above Carrbrook near Stalybridge. Its body was badly burned and it had no wool left.
‘Its skin was blistered and singed. It was making a rattling breathing noise which sounded like an 80-year-old smoker and had gunk coming out of its nose.
‘Firefighters pointed the animal out to me and said, ‘that’s the real cost of fires like this’. It looked like it was in shock.
‘I was up on the moors for two hours and it was the only sheep I saw.’
The RSPCA has issued advice and help to pet owners and farmers concerned they may be affected by the Moorland fire.
Intense: The multiple fires have raged deep within the moorland, away from nearby roads, leaving firefighters forced to walk for miles with heavy kit
Rising sun: A thick layer of smoke hovers above the city of Manchester on Wednesday night as the fire raged for its fourth day
Emergency services have warned that the fire could continue to last for weeks so the charity is offering advice for any local residents facing evacuation or worried for the safety of their animals.
The RSPCA advises those who could be asked to evacuate their homes to have a plan in place to help their pets stay safe in an emergency.
Chief Inspector Ben Strangwood said: ‘Pets can become victims of smoke inhalation too. It would be a good idea to get pet carriers, food and paperwork in one place ready to go and to know your escape route.
‘Try to make sure you are contactable in an emergency and be aware of the phone numbers of people who can help move your animals. It can be important in an emergency to act early and not wait to see what happens.
‘Never endanger your own life or another life in an attempt to rescue an animal.
‘In an emergency or for advice on animal welfare you can contact us on our 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 123 4999.’
The RSPCA is also concerned for livestock on the Moor after a photo of a ram scorched by the fire circulated online.
Marc Cooper, head of farm animal welfare at the RSPCA, said: ‘Sadly during a major incident such as this there can also be casualties to farm animals. It is important to move livestock safely, securely and swiftly in such an emergency but also to make sure there is no risk to human life.’
Around 100 soldiers and an RAF Chinook helicopter have been deployed to help tackle the vast moorland blaze that has raged for days.
The giant helicopters have been dumping tons of water scooped up from nearby reservoirs on smouldering patches of moorland later.
Troops from the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, were sent in overnight to join firefighters across Tameside, on the edge of Saddleworth Moor.
Fire chiefs yesterday said what they needed most was a significant downpour otherwise the fire may last for weeks as the scorching weather continues.
The fire began on Sunday night, reignited on Monday during the hot weather and then spread throughout Tuesday, fanned by evening winds.
The blaze covers seven square miles of moorland in Carrbrook above Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, and prompted the evacuation of up to 100 homes but there are no reported injuries.
Greater Manchester Police’s Saddleworth division said about 2,000 acres of moorland had been destroyed in the fire and some 55 exhausted firefighters were still trying to quell multiple pockets of flames.
Some 65,000 gallons of water were dropped on the blaze by a helicopter on Tuesday to fight the fire which was ‘unprecedented in recent times’, it added.
Firefighters are having to haul pumps and hoses for up to two miles in blistering heat to reach parts of the fire which has devastated swathes of land near Saddleworth Moor.
Four schools were also closed on Wednesday – Mossley Hollins High School, Buckton Vale Primary School, Millbrook Primary School and St Raphael’s Catholic Primary School.
Firefighters from Cheshire and Derbyshire have been supporting those from Greater Manchester.
A GP said he had seen patients with nosebleeds, coughs and eye problems caused by the smoke.
Emergency services have been giving out face masks to their own staff, residents, and members of the media.
Public Health England has released a warning to any people who may have been affected by smoke and residents have been recommended to close their windows and doors.
Asthmatics were advised to stay inside their homes and people were warned to also keep pets indoors.
The smoke engulfing homes has been described as dangerous with health officials forcing families to wear dust masks and to stay indoors. The inferno has raged across four miles of the Pennines beauty spot near Greater Manchester, decimating the moorlands in its wake
An RAF Chinook helicopter could soon be deployed to provide the military with the assistance requested, said Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. The task now facing crews is frequently shifting as changes in wind directions create fresh problem areas amid the ongoing heatwave, with temperatures reaching around 94F (33C) in the sun
Residents reveal dramatic escape as fire spread
Residents have spoken of their fear at being confronted by policemen wearing masks hammering on the front door telling them to evacuate.
Homeowners just yards from the Saddleworth Moor fire, Greater Manchester, were told to leave their belongings behind and flee as the blaze swept across moorland.
Angela Bevin, 37, said she began to panic when her semi-detached house began filling with smoke on Tuesday at 10pm.
She said: ‘The kids were in bed when smoke started to pour in, which was really scary.
‘A neighbour then text to say look out of the window and all I saw was fire.
‘Then a policeman wearing a mask knocked on the door but the ash was so thick, I could hardly see him.
‘He asked if he could come in because the smoke was so bad. He told me I had to get the kids out now because we were in real danger.’
Pictured: Angela Bevin and her family, who live in Calico Crescent, were the second family to be evicted on Tuesday night
Headteacher Deborah Brown of Buckton Vale in Statlybridge with some students from year 6 who came to offer refreshments to the firefighters
Angela, who works in recruitment, added: ‘My husband was on his way home but the officer said we couldn’t wait for him.
‘The policeman was great and helped me with the children.’
‘When I went outside, the fire was so hot that my face was burning. It was like I was stood next to a bonfire.’
Angela and hubby, Mike, 39, and sons Charlie, five, and Max, two, stayed at her sister’s house overnight.
She added: ‘I didn’t realise how bad it was. It was awful.
‘We could have been killed because we were so close to the fire.’
The local primary school Buckton Vale were out on the streets handing out home-made biscuits and treats to firefighters and the police mbattling the blaze.
Headteacher Deborah Brown and a group of Year 6 pupils were happy to help. Mrs Brown said: ‘The pupils have been making products as part of their Enterprise project to sell for the local community.
‘But because of the fire we have had to cancel it so we decided to hand out the edible goods to the firefighters, PSCOs and other volunteers to thank them for all their hard work.
‘They are all doing a remarkable job!’
Stamford Arms Pub owner Wayne Rawston who has been helping out local residents that have been evicted by letting them stay
Landlord of the Stamford Arms, Wayne Rawston, took in regulars, who had been evacuated.
The 55-year-old said: ‘We were just happy to help.’
Soldiers drafted in to help fight the fire, which could rage for weeks, are expected to remain in the area for a further 48 hours to help fire crews.
About 100 troops from the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, were sent from their barracks in Catterick, North Yorkshire, overnight.
The blaze is currently under control but could flare up at any time depending on the wind direction and the heat, the fire service said.
Military assistance was requested to help battle the blaze near Saddleworth Moor which has spread across seven square miles, in six different areas.
An investigation into how the blaze started is expected to begin soon.
A major incident was declared yesterday morning as the blaze worsened, with 34 homes evacuated. A public health warning has now been issued about pollution in the air. A police helicopter was deployed to the scene across Tameside – where plumes of smoke can be seen from space via satellites – and discussions between fire bosses and their military counterparts followed
A NASA satellite image captures the ongoing blaze from space
A major incident was declared yesterday morning as the blaze worsened, with 34 homes evacuated. A public health warning has now been issued about pollution in the air.
The task now facing crews is frequently shifting as changes in wind directions create fresh problem areas amid the ongoing heatwave, with temperatures reaching around 94F (33C) in the sun.
An RAF Chinook helicopter has now been deployed to provide the military with the assistance requested, said Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS).
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: ‘I pay tribute to our armed forces’ professionalism, dedication and sense of duty.
‘They are proving once again that Britain can always depend on our troops to protect us no matter the time, no matter the place, and no matter the problem.’
Dave Keelan, director of emergency response at GMFRS, said: ‘The request is to assist us to move some high volume pumps by air to locations that we couldn’t get them to with vehicles, and also the ability to transport personnel to those more remote areas so we can get there quicker with more people with the water supplies we hope to put in place to try and resolve the incident in a quicker nature.’
He said transporting two of the high volume pumps to remote locations would give his crews an ‘excellent quantity of water with a nice main across a big area that we can tap into’.
A police helicopter was deployed to the scene across Tameside – where plumes of smoke can be seen from space via Nasa satellites – and discussions between fire bosses and their military counterparts followed.
Mammoth task: A water supplier loaned a helicopter to the fire service to dowse volumes of water over the burning moors
Warning: One woman (pictured left) used a gas mask to go to the shops while others used scarfs to protect their faces
Coping: Residents in Calico Crescent tie masks around their faces to protect themselves from the air which has been deemed as ‘harmful’ by health officials
Relentless: A firefighter wipes his eyes as he continues to work on the biggest moorland fire on Saddleworth in recent history
Masks on: Members of the public are asisted with face masks being distributed by the local authority
Mammoth task: The sheer scale of the challenge before firefighters is captured in this image as the handful of firefighters try to control the growing smoke
Constant: Firefighters watch on as the blaze continues to burn
It is believed by some locals that off-road motorcyclists riding the moorland on Sunday triggered the initial fire near to Buckton Hill, which lies above the area.
Dave Keelan, director of emergency response at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: ‘We are trying to extinguish the fire. It’s just extremely difficult because of the changing wind direction and the terrain, and also the peat, the soil that it is in, tends to burn and the fire can be quite deep-seated.
‘We have got really good strategies in place for each of the separate incidents we are dealing with across the area with the aim to establish them as quickly as possible.
‘There is some work ongoing at the minute with our colleagues in the military to see if it is possible for them to assist us in any way and those discussions are currently taking place with my operation incident commander to see if that can be achieved in the short term.’
That assistance could include the utilising of extra personnel, four-wheel drive vehicles and possible air support, said Mr Keelan.
Extinguished: Firefighters tackle the smoldering moorland near Carrbrook, east Manchester
Donations: Kind-hearted locals have dropped off supplies in the village of Mossley to keep the firefighters going
Water firm United Utilities has provided a helicopter that can be used to drop water from height to areas of the fire that is difficult to access from foot while Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Ambulance hazardous area response team are also assisting.
Air quality levels in the area are being monitored regularly in different locations and air quality is at a safe level, with people in affected areas urged to keep their windows and doors closed, said GMFRS.
Residents have described flames leaping 20 feet in the air as firefighters continue to tackle a vast blaze on Saddleworth Moor.
Chris Keytes and his wife Jane live in a farmhouse on the side of a still smouldering hill above houses evacuated in Carrbrook, Greater Manchester, on Tuesday night.
Mr Keytes said he got home from work at 6pm and once the fire was over the crest of the hill he called the fire service out.
Three fire engines climbed the lane to the farmhouse to get water on the flames, just metres from the back of his home.
Aerial view: An image taken from high above the moorland shows streams of smoke rising from the surface
Unforgiving: As the fire rages into its fourth consecutive day, Britain faces its hottest day of the year so far with temperatures expected to reach 94F (33C)
Brief break: Two exhausted firefighters take a short respite from the inferno by sitting in an area of safety and downing bottles of water
Heroes: Up to 70 firefighters as well as police officers have been assisting in the challenging task
He said: ‘By that time the flames must have been leaping 20 feet high, but the problem is the wind direction is constantly changing. My problem was I have got dry brushwood here I haven’t shifted, a broken-down tractor here with a tank of diesel, so that was my main problem and it was a bit hot at times.
‘It’s just smoke and heat, when you are just stood out here when the fire crews are here. They have got hoses but the heat was that intense when they spray the hoses on, it just evaporates to steam anyhow.
‘So what they do is they damp the bracken down before the fire gets there with the hope of it petering out.
‘Which it has done but it’s just one of those things, it’s hard terrain, especially in the dark, you can’t see where you are going. There’s potholes, fences, walls. It’s hard work.’
Mr Keytes said he decided not to leave his home and dog when asked to evacuate the property on Tuesday night.
Safety measures: A police community support officer helps a resident place a mask around his face to shield him from the air
At the scene: One of the many emergency works patrols the streets as 70 firefighters continue their arduous task of quelling the extreme blaze
Update: David Keelan from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue speaks to the media on Calico Close close to the site of the fire
Patrol: A lone community support officer stands guard and is on hand to help out as residents are warned to stay inside
He added: ‘We were asked to but I’d rather just stick it out, we had breathing gear here.
‘I was in and out all night. Obviously I couldn’t sleep and I said to the wife, ‘I think the worst is over’, then the lights went out. We were without power all night then.
‘This morning I’ve come down, and there are still pockets of flames flaring up. I’m just rigging a pump up now to damp down on that.
‘We’ve got natural breaks that go all the way round, but it’s just one of those things, you live with it, you just have to be on the ball when it comes.
‘It was just the vast area, right over from Dovestones, right from Saddleworth over to here. All the lot’s gone up so it’s just stretching the fire crews really.
‘The wind’s changed again and it has started to smog up again and it’s going to constantly do that.’
Sue McDowell and her husband Peter had to grab a few possessions and their beloved West Highland terriers and pet cat, after being told by police and the fire service to evacuate their home in Calico Close, Carrbrook.
Mrs McDowell said: ‘The flames were getting closer and closer and the smoke got thicker – you couldn’t see anything, you could hear the sparks.
‘Around 9pm fire engines and police all turned up. We just grabbed whatever we and could got out. It was scary.’
The couple took their dogs, Alfie, 12, and Daisy, two, along with their 16-year-old cat, Mog, and some pet food, and left their home as neighbours also fled the street.
They spent the night in their motor home on a friend’s driveway before returning on Wednesday morning.
Mrs McDowell added: ‘You couldn’t see anything, you couldn’t see flames, all you could see was the smoke.
‘They said we could come back but to be prepared in case it starts off again.
‘We will keep some things together in case we need to go again.’
Dramatic: Photographs show the devastated landscape left behind after a four-day inferno has wreaked havoc on Saddleworth Moor
Scorched: Acres of moorland has been destroyed after a four-day blaze took hold of lands on Saddleworth Moor
‘Challenging conditions’: Firefighters photographed hacking away at moorlands as they desperately try to access the growing fire on Tuesday
Charred: Parts of the moor have been successfully extinguished as 70 firefighters dowsed the grassland with gallons of water
Draining: Two firemen stand at just one small fraction of the gigantic scene with one hosing off a previously burning patch
Engulfed: Photographs taken by air on Monday evening show the amount of smoke rising from the moorlands
Dangerous: Last night 34 homes had to be evacuated when the fire quickly spread across the baking hot moorland
Mapped: Police have evacuated 34 homes in the village of Carrbrook, at the foot of the moors, while 70 firefighters tackle a ‘four mile belt of fire’ running down the west side of the moorland
Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs that the Government is keeping the situation in Saddleworth ‘under constant review’.
Mrs May, speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, paid tribute to emergency service personnel and offered her sympathy to all those affected by the blaze.
She said: ‘The Home Office is monitoring the situation closely with the National Resilience Assurance team.
‘So far no request for Government support has been made from Manchester Fire and Rescue but we are keeping this under constant review and operational policy arrangements are in place to provide support if required.’
Among the affected areas is the village of Carrbrook, in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, where 34 households in the Calico Crescent area were evacuated on Tuesday night as a precaution when strong winds pushed flames near their properties.
A major incident was declared on Tuesday morning and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service put in a plan of action to douse the fire which initially broke out on Sunday afternoon.
Gruelling: Two of Greater Manchester Fire Service’s 70 employees at the scene hose down the charred moorland
Latest: Satellite images, taken on Thursday, show the extent of the smoke plume across Saddleworth Moor
Fire patches: This satellite shot shows pockets of red on the moorlands representing the fire and blue areas showing the smoke clouds
Exhausted: Firefighters take a brief moment of respite by sitting on a wall near a farm after hours of tackling the blaze
Apocalyptic scenes: Photographs taken last night show flames engulfing the popular beauty spot between Dovestones and Buckton Vale in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester
Briefing: Some of the 70 firefighters gather on a nearby housing estate before heading back into the hills to continue their efforts
Bird’s eye view: The fire on Saddleworth Moor viewed from a police helicopter circling above
Mr Parkes added: ‘This fire is particularly large. We’ve got lots of experience with dealing with moor fires but this particular incident is vast – it’s presented some real challenges to the fire and rescue service in terms of our access, the conditions for firefighters that they have been working in and obviously the wind encourages the fire to spread.
‘We have been dealing with an escalating incident and we are trying to get on top of it now.’
In Carrbrook, the morning sun struggled to break through with smoke still hanging thick in the air and ash floating to the ground.
Paula Tootell, who lives in Calico Crescent, said her neighbours were evacuated while she was told by police to keep her windows and doors shut and stay inside until they were told to move out as the flames raged nearby.
Ms Tootell said: ‘The hills were on fire, it came closer and closer to the properties. Lots of fire engines arrived, we were told that they were putting pipes all around the estate for safety really.
‘Houses across the road and further in, nearer to the fields, were evacuated and we were told to be on alert.
‘We could see lots of flames on the hills and the whole of the hills was just red. It was bizarre, and so much smoke, you couldn’t see in front of your face at some points.
Precaution: Firefighters dampen down fields nearby to stop the spread of the fire
A man covers his face with a scarf as smoke fills the streets in Mossley, around five miles from the site of the fire
‘Pockets of fire’: Fire chief Leon Parkes said the blaze was unusual with numerous fires spanning a four mile stretch of moorland
‘It looked like a volcano erupting!’ Holidaymaker, 48, captures dramatic images of raging moorland fire
These shocking images capture the early stages of the raging fire that has swept across Saddleworth Moor for the last three days.
Holidaymaker Kate MacRae, 48, snapped the scene from a plane when she spotted huge palls of smoke rising into the sky from her seat.
She was returning to Manchester Airport from a trip to the Shetlands via Aberdeen when she spotted the clouds of smoke as the plane was descending to land. Ms MacRae described the scene as ‘looking like a volcano.’
Holidaymaker Kate MacRae, 48, snapped the scene from a plane when she spotted huge palls of smoke rising into the sky from her seat
She said: ‘It was about 7pm on Monday when I was coming in to land that I noticed the smoke.
‘It looked like a volcano with the plumes of smoke rising up into the air. I took some pictures on my phone through the plane window and thought nothing more about it.
‘It was only when I saw the blaze on the telly last night I realised I had photographed the early stages of it. From a distance, it looked like a huge volcanic eruption.’
More than 30 homes have been evacuated as the fire service struggle to take hold of the huge flames.
The blaze has been declared a ‘major incident’ with the Army is on standby to step in if needed.
The fire began on Sunday night, reignited on Monday during the hot weather and then spread throughout Tuesday, fanned by evening winds.
Thirty-four homes in Carrbrook, near Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, were evacuated but there are no reported injuries.
Smoke has completely engulfed the village, with locals advised to keep windows closed and for asthmatics to continue taking their medication.
The fire began on Sunday night, reignited on Monday during the hot weather and then spread throughout Tuesday, fanned by evening winds
She added: ‘The whole of the hill was just on flame, like a bid red ring around the hills. You could see flames literally along the whole of the hill.’
It is thought that affected residents stayed with family and friends last night, although accommodation assistance was offered by Tameside Council.
On Facebook, Greater Manchester Police’s Saddleworth division posted that an estimated 2,000 acres of moorland had been destroyed in the fire which had spread as far as Tintwistle in Derbyshire.
Some 65,000 gallons of water had been dropped by helicopter by Tuesday afternoon to fight the fire which was ‘unprecedented in recent times and has been devastating to the moorland and the wildlife that live there’, it added.
The exact cause of the blaze has not been established, said the fire service.
Firefighters are struggling to contain the blaze on Saddleworth Moors threatening nearby houses. The wildfires started on Sunday evening and have continued for 48 hours
Greater Manchester Police said 34 homes have been evacuated so far as strong winds drive the flames closer to residential areas.
The force tweeted: ‘We are in contact with the Army and they are on standby to help if we need them.’
Images posted on social media showed bright orange flames lighting the night sky, while smoke from the fire can be seen for miles.
No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire, but people living nearby have been advised to keep windows and doors closed by Public Health England.
Tameside Council said that two schools – Mossley Hollins High and Buckton Vale Primary – will be closed due to the ongoing fire.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service group manager for Tameside, Phil Nelson, said: ‘Crews are still tackling this difficult fire and are working hard to contain the blaze and prevent further fire spread.
‘Firefighters are faced with very difficult circumstances, intense heat and are working on challenging terrain.
‘Our main considerations are for crew welfare. It is physically draining working at this incident and it is vital that our firefighters have regular breaks and that relief crews are available to take over.’
Dramatic photographs show the fire in full swing on Tuesday night as the blaze roars for its fourth day
Flames illuminated the skies last night as Greater Manchester Fire Service battled to get the moorland blaze under control
Meanwhile the mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham thanked fire crews.
He tweeted: ‘Huge thanks to the GM firefighters working flat out to contain this worrying situation.’
Smoke can be seen from more than 20 miles away from the fires which have raged since Sunday evening.
According to Rachel West of the Met Office, the high temperatures expected to continue until the weekend.
She said: ‘Wednesday and Thursday will be very hot and sunny, we’re likely to see highs of 86.1F (31C) in parts of the country and there is a small chance we could see 89.6F (32C).
‘On Friday temperatures tail off a bit in the north and east but it will still be very warm and the fine weather will continue on Saturday.’
Police patrolled the streets in case the nearby homes had to be quickly evacuated
Smoke billowed from the fires surrounding the Saddleworth and Stalybridge areas
Tristan Manchester set up his camera to take photographs of the fire on Saddleworth moor
Mr Manchester took some 990 images of the fire over the course of almost four hours
His camera took a photograph every ten seconds to show the spread of the fire
Fire crews were scrambled to the scene around 8pm on Sunday to tackle the blaze
Huge areas of the countryside were covered in smoke due to the lack of breeze in the area
Thankfully, nobody has been injured and no property has been damaged in the inferno
Firefighters have spent more than 48 hours tackling the blazes across the moors
Officials thought they had beaten the fire on Sunday night, but it reignited on Monday
Residents have been warned to keep their doors and windows closed if they see smoke