BBC Radio Manchester offers extra fire coverage

Published on June 28, 2018 - 1:14 pm

BBC Radio Manchester dropped its network programming feed this week to continue local coverage of the fire on Saddleworth Moor.

The station stayed on-air on locally at 7pm instead of switching to an the all-England evening show, and continued to be live overnight instead of taking BBC Radio 5 live.

Connor Phillips was on until 5am taking calls from worried listeners.

Mike Sweeney was live from Carrbrook, and other presenters and reporters including breakfast presenter Sam Walker were on the scene interviewing residents, the Mayor and Jonathan Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge.

I’m live @BBCRadioManc from Carrbrook this morning, where pockets of fire have been burning overnight on the moors behind the village. The army are due to arrive soon as fire fighters continue to tackle the blaze pic.twitter.com/5SkzJtnTql

— Sam Walker (@WalkerSam) June 28, 2018

Tonight from 7pm we'll bring you a special programme to keep you up-to-date with all the events of the Tameside Wildfire. @MikeMinay wants to hear from you. Tell us your stories of what you've seen and how you're coping. pic.twitter.com/xKCNtmtF3o

— BBC Radio Manchester (@BBCRadioManc) June 27, 2018

Kate Squire, Managing Editor of BBC Radio Manchester, said: “This is one of the biggest moor fires we’ve ever seen in England and we’ll be bringing our listeners live updates from the scene as the military is called in to help tackle the blaze.”