THE UK鈥檚 largest wildfire for decades is almost under control after blazing for a week during the country鈥檚 longest heat wave since 1976. But with no rain forecast for at least a week, peat burning underground at Saddleworth Moor near Manchester could continue to smoulder, generating hazardous smoke. The same could happen on moorland at Winter Hill (pictured), 50 kilometres away, which burned for five days before being put out.
Fire chiefs tackling the Saddleworth blaze say it has consumed up to 20 square kilometres of moor and scrubland. Although surface fires are all but out, peat below ground continues to smoulder and can only be completely extinguished with a two or three-day downpour. 鈥淲ithout rain, it鈥檚 very difficult to put out,鈥� says Hugh Coe, a professor of atmospheric composition at the University of Manchester.
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As it continues to smoulder and burn, the peat reignites sporadic surface fires, and spews potentially hazardous smoke. 鈥淭he worst hazard is the small-particulate matter, which exacerbates lung problems, asthma, allergy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder,鈥� says Coe. Burning peat debris also gets coated with cancer-causing chemicals called polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
But because of extensive toxic fallout from factories a century ago, there could be other hazards. 鈥淭here鈥檚 100 years鈥� of pollution buried along with the peat as it formed,鈥� says Coe. This could mean that toxic heavy metals such as lead and cadmium are taking to the air in fly ash.
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This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淲ildfire smoke hazard鈥�
