FIREFIGHTERS have been called to the second large moorland blaze in just 12 hours.
Crews from Bacup fire station were called to the moor above Lee Mill Quarry Mountain Bike Trails in the town at around 8.15pm tonight to tackle the fire, which covered a 2,000 square metre area of land.
Watch manager Dave Loney said 12 firefighters spent two and a half hours using beaters and water-filled backpacks to put out the flames, which spread rapidly across the dry grass and peatland.
He said: "We have no idea how or even where it started. There was a 1,000 metre front of flames moving in a circle.
"It could have been a disposed cigarette.
"We want to get the message out there that people need to take a bit of extra care, especially during warm weather."
Earlier today, fire crews from across Lancashire were called to tackle a huge moorland fire above Darwen.
The incident sparked a warning call from wildlife experts, who said animals and birds die in such fires.
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