A FIRE which stretched across one mile of moorland near Darwen Tower is believed to have been started deliberately.

Police want to question four youths who were spotted in the vicinity.

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The fire broke out at 6.10pm on Tuesday and it took four crews three hours to put it out.

The blaze comes as an arson probe has been launched following an ‘exceptional’ number of moorland fires this month.

In the last week alone, there have been 15 grass and moorland fires reported in East Lancashire, leading to urgent calls for vigilance and extra-care.

The incidents mean miles of vital animal and bird habitat have been lost in the past month, while firefighters have spent countless hours using specialist kit and vehicles in a bid to stop the blazes spreading.

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The fire service believes the blazes have either been started deliberately or through the reckless actions of people visiting the areas.

Spokesman John Taylor said: “I would say it has been exceptional. It is a lot in a short space of time.”

Wild life experts have said they are extremely worried about the ‘devastating effect’ on animals and birds, which nest on the ground.

Alan Wright from Lancashire Wildlife Trust said: “We have really iconic moorland birds like the black cap curlew and skylarks, and we have grouse and birds of prey on these moors.

“Some of the birds may even have laid eggs.

“It’s also an important area for deer and vole and other smaller creatures too.

“Animals and birds do die in fires like this.”

Wildlife officer PC Carl Chew said heather on the moorlands contain insects used by birds to feed on.

He said: “At this time of year we have nesting birds so fire can be devastating. We have grouse in sensitive areas and different species on the moors.

“They will be fattening up and feeding their young.”

“It does not take much to set heather on fire, especially when the weather is as warm as it is.

“And if the fire is not controlled, it will get into the peat underground and it can smoulder so you might think it’s out and then it starts up again a day later.”

Since the start of the month, miles of moorland has been ravaged in Darwen and Bacup, while smaller grass and park fires were also reported at the Coppice in Accrington on several occasions, Queen’s Park in Blackburn, on the bank of the Leeds Liverpool Canal in Blackburn, off Gorple Road in Worsthorne, Stacksteads, and on a railway embankment on the line between Huncoat and Altham.

One long-term effect of the fires on the moorlands could be the increased acidity of the soil, which makes it harder for the heather and gorse to grow back.

Catherine Flitcroft from BMC, a climbing, hill walking and mountaineering publication, said the fires could also affect water sources.

She said: “The peat, once its dried by fire, is readily eroded and ... is washed into streams, rivers and particularly reservoirs,”

Mr Taylor added: “It can be hard to pick the arsons out and prove it because there’s often there is no CCTV to catch anybody doing it.

“It could also be a motorist chucking a cigarette out the window or it could be somebody who is hiking.

“Sometimes it’s said a piece of broken glass could act like a magnifying glass and focus the sun on the grass”

Police also issued a warning to landowners that burning heather for moorland management between April 11 and September 31 was illegal.

A spokesman said: “The burning of moorland is not a victimless crime. The moors are being managed with public money to return them into better condition to help retain water.

“This helps prevent flooding in the valleys.”

To report any suspicious behaviour on the moorland, or to give information about any of the previous fires, call police on 101.