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AROUND a hundred soldiers and an RAF Chinook have been sent to try and tame the flames on Saddleworth Moor.

Troops from 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, and an RAF Chinook helicopter have been deployed to support the Fire Service at the wildfire.

Helicopters have been drafted in to try and tame the flames on Saddleworth Moore
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Helicopters have been drafted in to try and tame the flames on Saddleworth MooreCredit: PA:Press Association

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.”

The troops will deploy overnight from their barracks in Catterick.

Operating out of a nearby Army Training Centre, they will assist the effort to control and reduce the fire.

They will help with the management of water lines, fire beating and providing general support where required.

Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland arrive on Saddleworth Moor near Manchester where they will help fight the blaze
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Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland arrive on Saddleworth Moor near Manchester where they will help fight the blazeCredit: PA:Press Association
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson paid tribute to our Armed Forces’ 'professionalism, dedication and sense of duty' as they arrived at the scene
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Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson paid tribute to our Armed Forces’ 'professionalism, dedication and sense of duty' as they arrived at the sceneCredit: PA:Press Association
Due to the clear skies over Britain smoke from the blaze was clearly visible from space
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Due to the clear skies over Britain smoke from the blaze was clearly visible from space
Saddleworth Moor near Manchester, seen this afternoon
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Saddleworth Moor near Manchester, seen this afternoonCredit: PA:Press Association
Fire crews are battling through the night in an effort to bring the blaze under control
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Fire crews are battling through the night in an effort to bring the blaze under controlCredit: Mercury Press
Police and civilians have been using masks to protect themselves from the smoke
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Police and civilians have been using masks to protect themselves from the smokeCredit: PA:Press Association
The Lancashire skies have been thick with smoke since Sunday
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The Lancashire skies have been thick with smoke since SundayCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

The RAF Chinook, flying out of RAF Odiham, will arrive tomorrow morning.

It will airlift heavy equipment such as High Volume Pump Units to areas that are difficult to access due to the terrain.

Firefighters will work through the night to tackle a vast moorland blaze that has raged for days, as they await a response to their call for military help.

About 55 firefighters and specialist officers were continuing to tackle multiple pockets of fire spanning up to 6km across Tameside, on the edge of the moor.

The clear skies over Britain today meant that smoke from the blaze could be seen from space as a plume of smoke rose out of Lancashire.

The terrifying wildfire in Saddleworth Moor has forced more than 30 homes to be evacuated
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The terrifying wildfire in Saddleworth Moor forced more than 30 homes to be evacuatedCredit: Getty Images - Getty

On Tuesday, people in the Calico Crescent area of Carrbrook, in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, were advised to leave their properties as firefighters battled flames nearby.

The blaze, which has now been declared a major incident, started on Sunday and reignited the next day amid Britain's heatwave and has devastated land around Carrbrook.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Dave Keelan said: “We have been liaising with a military advisor on the scene and following those discussions we have requested military assistance from the Ministry of Defence.

“There’s still a lot of smoke from the fire but air quality levels are being monitored regularly in different locations. Air quality is currently at a safe level and therefore residents have been let back into their homes."

Incredible timelapse footage of forest fire raging threateningly through Saddleworth hills, Manchester
The devastation is seen this morning from high above as smoke continues to billow into the sky
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The devastation is seen this morning from high above as smoke continues to billow into the skyCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Smoke from the horror blaze can even be seen from space
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Smoke from the horror blaze can even be seen from spaceCredit: NASA
Fire crews and officials urged those living in the area of Greater Manchester to remain indoors
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Fire crews and officials urged those living in the area of Greater Manchester to remain indoorsCredit: Mercury Press
Residents were evacuated from the village of Carbrook as the moor fire inched closer to their houses
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Residents were evacuated from the village of Carrbrook as the moor fire inched closer to their housesCredit: ASP
Fire officers use beaters to fight the flames
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Fire officers use beaters to fight the flamesCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Rescue teams fear more devastation with 31C temperatures predicted for later today
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Rescue teams fear more devastation with 31C temperatures predicted for later todayCredit: London News Pictures
Firefighters on Saddleworth Moor attempt to dampen down the area to stop the spread of fire
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Firefighters on Saddleworth Moor attempt to dampen down the area to stop the spread of fireCredit: Sean Quarmby
A lady wearing a gas mask on the way back from the shops this morning
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A lady wearing a gas mask on the way back from the shops this morningCredit: Cavendish Press

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 Millbrook Primary School, Mossley Hollins High School and Buckton Vale Primary School will be closed today as a result of the 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.

The area has been left in devastation by the blaze, with various schools closed and homes evacuated
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The area has been left in devastation by the blaze, with various schools closed and homes evacuated
Schools have shut on Wednesday due to the health risk posed by the smoke
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Schools have shut on today due to the health risk posed by the smokeCredit: London News Pictures
Greater Manchester Police said 34 homes have been evacuated so far as strong winds drive the flames closer to residential areas
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Greater Manchester Police said 34 homes have been evacuated so far as strong winds drive the flames closer to residential areasCredit: London News Pictures
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'
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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'Credit: London News Pictures
Terrifying footage and images showed the wildfire, branded the worst in living memory, inching ever closer to people's homes
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Terrifying footage and images showed the wildfire, branded the worst in living memory, inching ever closer to people's homesCredit: London News Pictures
This morning the scene looks surreal as the area is devastated
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This morning the scene looks surreal as the area is devastatedCredit: London News Pictures
One local said: 'You can’t go outside, you can barely see'
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One local said: 'You can’t go outside, you can barely see'Credit: London News Pictures

"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."

Terrifying footage and images showed the wildfire, branded the worst in living memory, inching ever closer to people's homes - with some claiming flames were just metres away.

Fire crews have been fighting the flames for hours
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Fire crews have been fighting the flames for hoursCredit: ASP
The Saddleworth Moor blaze is now said to be the 'biggest in living memory'
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The skies above Saddleworth Moor glowed red as the hills were engulfed by what has been described as the 'biggest [wildfire] in living memory'

Local authorities declared a major incident overnight
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Local authorities declared a major incident overnightCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Dee Blanchard, 28, told she could barely see through the smoke outside her house.

She said: "The wind is coming downhill and it’s only about 200m away now.

"You can’t go outside, you can barely see.

"There's a fireman in a white hat who I think is in charge and he he said that we might have to evacuate."

The raging flames are currently inching closer to people's homes
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The raging flames are currently inching closer to people's homesCredit: Getty Images - Getty
These residents take a brief rest after helping evacuate around 500 sheep from the spreading wildfire
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These residents take a brief rest after helping evacuate around 500 sheep from the spreading wildfireCredit: Mercury Press
Other residents told of how they stuffed wet towels underneath their doors to stop smoke getting in
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Other residents told of how they stuffed wet towels underneath their doors to stop smoke getting inCredit: Mercury Press
Locals watched helplessly as ash rained down on their homes for a third straight night
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Locals watched helplessly as ash rained down on their homes for a third straight nightCredit: Getty Images - Getty
The flames are now just 200m from people's homes in Greater Manchester
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The flames are now just 200m from people's homes in Greater ManchesterCredit: Mercury Press
Wildfire breaks out on Saddleworth Moors with crews battling raging flames on hottest day of the year
There are reports that evacuations have already begun
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There are reports that evacuations have already begunCredit: Mercury Press

Dee, a former military officer, added: "If they can’t put it out I don’t know what’s going to happen.

"I can literally hear the fire crackling... it’s that sound like a bonfire."

Cops tweeted to say risks to health were low but added: "The smoke can make your eyes and throat sore. Keep hydrated and wash your hands."

Footage released by Derbyshire Fire Service earlier showed firefighters, surrounded by smoke, beating down the moorland.

The enormous wild fire in Greater Manchester has prompted a warning to residents to keep windows and doors closed
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The enormous wild fire in Greater Manchester has prompted a warning to residents to keep windows and doors closedCredit: MEN Media
Tameside council have ordered a evacuation of the Carbrook village as flames get closer to houses
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Tameside council have ordered a evacuation of the Carbrook village as flames get closer to houses
Fire fighters are struggling to keep the flames under control and horses are apparently being moved
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Fire fighters are struggling to keep the flames under control and horses are apparently being moved
Firefighters battle the blaze at Tintwistle as the heatwave causes it to spread
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Firefighters battle the blaze at Tintwistle as the heatwave causes it to spreadCredit: PA:Press Association

They advised people in the surrounding areas to keep their doors and windows closed.

There were worrying reports the smoke could be smelled inside properties as far away as Bolton.

Pet owners were also urged to keep animals inside as the dangerous haze descended on many nearby towns.

Fires began on Sunday evening but have sinced reignited as a result of the heatwave that is currently sweeping the nation
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Fires began on Sunday evening but have since reignited as a result of the heatwave that is currently sweeping the nationCredit: Mercury Press
Firefighters are dwarfed by the huge plumes of smoke coming from the wildfire
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Firefighters are dwarfed by the huge plumes of smoke coming from the wildfireCredit: PA:Press Association
Entire neighbourhoods were engulfed in smoke
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Entire neighbourhoods were engulfed in smokeCredit: Mercury Press

Network Rail's extreme weather action teams are being activated across the country to monitor "vulnerable locations".

Services on the London Waterloo to New Malden line are being subjected to speed restrictions from 11am each day until Friday.

Network Rail said hot weather can cause the steel on rail lines to expand and in some cases buckle (curve), causing travel disruption.

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Slower trains exert lower forces on the track, reducing the likelihood of buckling.

Police yesterday urged people to resist the temptation to swim in open water in the hot weather.

Surrey Police said: "With the warm weather, we are reminding people of the dangers of swimming in open water."

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