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Emergency services have evacuated residents from 34 homes in Carrbrook, near Stalybridge but there are no reported injuries. The army has also now been called in as the blaze continues to edge closer to properties. The fire, which is spread over six kilometres, has been described as the “biggest blaze in living memory” and has moved within 200 feet from homes in certain areas. It is believed to have destroyed an estimated 2,000 acres of land, and the fire shows no signs of slowing down. The blaze began on Sunday and was initially brought under control but it reignited on Monday due to the hot weather and winds spread it across large areas on Tuesday.

Today the head of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed army support had been requested. 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. "However, the advice from Public Health England remains the same - if you are in an area of smoke please try and keep windows and doors closed and keep hydrated by drinking water, and if you have any health concerns contact the NHS 111 service. "We don't know the cause of this incident at this stage and it would be very difficult to ascertain the cause due to the extent of the damage but we will be looking into that once we have tackled the fire. "We've had a great deal of support from the public and charities - people have been donating supplies and we are really grateful, however, we really need people to stay away from the scene Please listen to the advice and continue to follow official updates for the latest information."

A fire on Saddleworth Moor has been declared a 'major incident' by the Greater Manchester Police

Crews are still tackling this difficult fire and are working hard to contain the blaze and prevent further fire spread Phil Nelson

Firefighters from Cheshire and Derbyshire have been supporting those from Greater Manchester and a helicopter is being used over the area to drop water onto the fire. Public Health England has also issued a warning to any people who may have been affected by smoke and residents have been advised to close their windows and doors, with some streets even covered in ash. In a news conference early on Wednesday morning, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Chief Fire Officer Leon Parkes described it as a "really difficult fire situation", adding "the challenges are enormous". He said: "There were a number of other homes at threat of fire, however we put additional services in that area so I hope we've quelled that risk. "The area is really, really large - it's a really difficult fire situation because of the size of it, some of the feedback we've received is that it's over 6km.

The fire on Saddleworth More is spread across 6km of land, destroying around 2,000 acres of land

"Clearly the challenges are enormous. We have fire fighters working in really, really hot conditions. They're doing everything they can to control that fire. "The scenes of fire are not where we can access, some of them are two miles away (from where we can park). "We've got over 6km of affected area - there is fire occurring in pockets around the outskirts. The plan today is to try and really really put some resource on the scene, and put a heavy attack on this fire - if that needs military assistance, that's what we'll consider." Mr Parkes said the cause of the fire had not yet been established, adding that air sampling was taken last night and that the readings have come back showing "safe levels". He added: "Our advice to members of the public is to close your windows and doors if you are experiencing smoke. Anybody on medication, continue to take that medication.

Emergency services have evacuated residents from at least 34 homes near Saddleworth Moor

"The feedback in respect of the smoke is that they're at safe levels." In the latest joint update from Greater Manchester’s Fire and Rescue and Tameside Council, Brenda Warrington, the leader of Tameside Council, said: “This situation is extremely worrying for the authorities and particularly for the residents that live here. “The smoke is a lot worse now than when we first arrived at around 10.30am and so it clearly is a very changeable situation.” A spokesman for the Greater Manchester’s Fire and Rescue confirmed conversation were ongoing with the military “to see whether it is possible for them to assist” with Saddleworth Moor fires. Firefighter Ricky Case, who has been out on the hills, described the fire as "one of the biggest I've been on in a long time". He said: "It's just the sheer vastness of it all.

Saddleworth Moor fire: Latest pictures as heatwave sees wildfire spread Wed, June 27, 2018 Saddleworth Moor fire: The latest pictures of Greater Manchester wildfire. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 12 Saddleworth Moor fire LIVE: Latest pictures as heatwave sees wildfire spread

"It's one of the biggest ones I've been on in a long time. "The logistics of it all, trying to get water to the locations where we need it. Tameside Council has issued health warnings for local residents, urging them to remain indoors and avoid smoke inhalation. The council has also set up evacuation centres for affected residents. Individuals living 18 miles from the site reported seeing “ash falling from the sky”, and said the smoke was so thick “you can taste it”. One local resident Ellie Shember commented on Twitter, stating: “There’s ash from Saddleworth Moor falling around me as I walked to pick up my girls in Mossley. "The devastation up there must be unimaginable.

Leon Parkes described it as a "really difficult fire situation" and the "challenges are enormous"

"There's quite a breeze - you can taste the ash." Local resident Dee Blancahrd reported that visibility was extremely poor due to the thick smoke, with it decreasing to just 50 metres in parts. He added: "I can literally hear the fire crackling. The wind is coming downhill and it's only about 200 metres away now.” Paula Tootell said her neighbours were evacuated while she was told by police to keep her windows and doors shut and to stay inside until they were told to move out as the flames raged nearby. She said: "The hills were on fire, it came closer and closer to the properties. "We could see lots of flames on the hills and the whole of the hills was just red.

The fire on Saddleworth had sent huge plumes of smoke into the sky on Monday

"It was bizarre, and so much smoke, you couldn't see in front of your face at some points." Anthony Leach, who lives in the area, said the smell of smoke was "in every room". He added: "It's like you could almost smoke mackerel in there." Reverend Chris Finney has opened his church, St James' in Millbrook to anyone who needs it. He said: "I've lived in this area all my life and I think I can say that within my memory - and I'm in my 60s - I've not seen fires on the moors to the extent that we're looking at them at the moment.”

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) group manager for Tameside, Phil Nelson, had also earlier commented on the complexity of the task facing Manchester firefighters. He 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. "I would like to thank the Salvation Army for keeping our crews fed and watered during this incident.