A gamekeeper has said he “knew he had to do his bit” and help try and put out the moorland fires which have burnt above Greater Manchester.
Jono Simmonds, 37, who works as a gamekeeper on the Stalybridge Estate was one of about 20 others from surrounding areas who have been working around the clock to get on top of the fires, alongside Greater Manchester Fire Service, who have thanked the men for their work.
“We knew we had to do our bit to stop it and fortunately a lot of the lads jumped on and were here to help,” Jono said.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said it was “extremely grateful” for the contribution of those who know and work on the land.
“When you’re facing it and thinking it’s all going to go up in smoke, it’s heartbreaking,” Jono added.
Earlier this week, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said a “stand down” decision had been taken after a review on Monday.
However, the service says “the incident is not over” with fire still “present beneath the surface” and firefighters remain “to monitor and contain any fire spread”.
Richard Bailey from the Regional Moorland Group, which supports landowners and has helped coordinate the response from gamekeepers has calculated its members and their staff have contributed more than 2,000 hours between them in recent weeks.
He believes their knowledge of the terrain proved invaluable.
He said: “We know when to fight a fire and when to let it go because it’s coming into a natural break.
“The fire service have had better kit now from 2018 but it’s that knowledge of how to get to A to B which we have because we’re on it [the land] every day.”