Oldham affected by smoke from Meltham moorland fire

On Tuesday (July 30), fire crews from West Yorkshire were called to reports of a moorland fire off Wessendenhead Road in Meltham at around 10am.

Fire crews from Huddersfield, Halifax, Dewsbury, Slaithwaite, Mirfield, Cleckheaton, Ossett, Meltham and Skelmanthorpe were deployed to the scene as well as specialist wildlife resources and 10 pumps.

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West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) say the fire stretched across the moorland for more than 4km (roughly 2.48 miles).

By 12.45pm yesterday, the fire had split into sections and it was hoped the situation would be brought to a close.

The size of the fire is estimated to span around 4km (Image: WYFRS)

An hour later, WYFRS said the fire still reached 4km and crews were using beaters and a water relay.

At 2.45pm, firefighters started using blowers and ultra-light pumps and received additional assistance from Yorkshire Water.

After six hours of tackling the blaze, the fire service said the fire had been "reduced down in size significantly" as of 4pm and scaled back its response.

Crews left as of 9.30pm last night but had a "waking watch" overnight to monitor the situation.

Then as of 10am today (Wednesday, July 31), 11 fire crews from Todmorden, Castleford, Keighley, Featherstone, Moortown, Morley, Bradford, Odsal, Dewsbury, Hunslet and Rastrick were called out to fight the fire.

Residents in Oldham say they could smell smoke in the early hours (Image: WYFRS)

WYFRS said the current warm dry weather and the environment of the vast moorland is making it a "challenging fire to tackle".

However, the fire front now spans approximately 2.4km as of 11.30am today.

Residents as far as Shaw, Royton, Heyside, Waterhead, Chadderton, High Crompton, Middleton and even Rochdale have said they were woken to the smell of smoke as early as 4am today.

Louise Kay from Sholver said "it really stinks" while Chloe Graham said she heard "lots of sirens" around the same time.

Donna Forbes said the smell even woke her up in the early hours in Chadderton.

She said: "I had to check the house wasn't on fire, it was so strong."

The fire has reduced to less than 3km this morning (Image: WYFRS)

Barbara Grice said the smoke started drifting over in Heyside around 5pm yesterday and she had to bring her washing in from the smell.

Others are reporting the smoke is continuing to drift across the borough and appears to be getting stronger as the day goes on.

Elizabeth Moore said it was "very smokey in Shaw" as of 6am this morning - and Zoe Slate said she "panicked" when she woke to the smell, fearing her son had left the oven on.

Charlotte Pilkington in Waterhead said her house "smells of it".

Others say they can smell it all across the area, from Latics' football ground to their local gym's pools and hospital wards.

Meanwhile, residents in Meltham and the surrounding areas described the fire as appearing "worse than ever".

WYFRS has been contacted for comment on the situation.

 Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk