Firefighters admit 'vast' wildfire keeps burning

Firefighters into the seventh day of tackling a "vast" moorland wildfire have admitted they cannot say when the blaze in Greater Manchester will be put out.

More than 100 firefighters and volunteers are fighting the fire on two fronts at Dovestone and Swineshaw.

Helicopters are water-bombing the parched land and plumes of smoke continued to drift across Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Fire and Resuce Service (GMFRS) incident commander Paul Fernhead said it they were ''on top of the fire'' at the moment but the battle was far from over.

Fire broke out on Dove Stone on Saturday while the fire at Lower Swine Shaw began four days ago.

Greater Manchester chief fire officer Dave Russel added on X: "Scale of this wildfire is vast.

"Physically demanding & incredibly challenging environment for my firefighters to work in & they've been at this 24/7 for over a week - their professionalism as always is first class."

Fernhead said much of the fire was "deep within remote and inaccessible moorland, which can only be reached on foot, with specialist vehicles, or with support from the air".

He added: "We could be here for some time."

GMFRS has been reinforced by teams from Derbyshire, South Wales, Lancashire, and Hereford & Worcester fire and rescue rervices

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