Support provided to Manchester fire service as moorland fires rage
published on 27 Jul 2026
The Salvation Army’s emergency response team for Greater Manchester has provided support and more than 1,000 sandwiches for firefighters during a period of wildfires sweeping the moors.
The Salvation Army has been onsite at Yeoman Hey then Swineshaw reservoirs from the start of the fires over ten days ago, which are believed to have been sparked by the careless extinguishment of a disposable barbeque. Due to the extreme heat and dry weather experienced over recent months the fires have taken hold becoming wild and destroying mass areas of grassland.
The Salvation Army’s emergency response team of over 20 volunteers have provided practical support to over 100 firefighters and personnel on-site by cooking and preparing hot and cold lunches, evening meals, providing refreshments and emotional support.
Alongside the 1,000 sandwiches provided over a period of ten days more than 1,000 evening meals have also been supplied with all food handmade on-site from a specially adapted and equipped catering van which acts as The Salvation Army’s Emergency Response Vehicle for the Greater Manchester area.
Fiona Okbi, emergency response lead for The Salvation Army in the North West said: “We see offering this support as part of our service and mission to going where and doing what our local community needs and we are thankful that we can help.
"We see firefighters working tirelessly to get the fires under control and are proud to serve alongside them on the frontline offering much needed supplies so that they can carry on with keeping the area safe.
“Our emergency response team is operated solely by volunteers who give up their spare time, and we are thankful for all that they do to ensure our work can continue. The time our volunteers dedicate to supporting us really does transform the community that we serve, they are all truly inspirational.”
As well as Greater Manchester Fire Service, The Salvation Army has also worked alongside the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), specialist burns team and London Fire Brigade, who were called in to support. The Army’s volunteers have completed shifts starting at 9am and often ending at 9pm for a number of days a week.
The Salvation Army’s Emergency Response Vehicle is one of twenty-seven similar vehicles that the church and charity has up and down the country to support several other blue light organisations.
