FIRE chief have made yet another appeal to Oldham parents after youths are believed to have caused two grass fires over night (Thursday, July 5).

Firefighters from Hollins and Oldham fire stations were called to Crompton Moor after a large quantity of grass and trees were ignited.

Crews found a site where youths had been camping and drinking and where school books had been burned. Disposable barbecues had also been left.

They had to strip three fire engines of hoses to carry them to the scene of the fire. They were there for four hours.

The new plea comes as crews from the UK are still battling fires on Saddleworth Moor and at Winter Hill near Bolton.

Oldham station crew manager Gary Park said: “We are appealing once again to local parents to know where your children are and what they’re doing.

“These fires have been started deliberately and are putting the emergency services under intense but unnecessary pressure.”

Meanwhile, crews were called to Glodwick Lows in the early hours of the morning where hundreds of square metres of grass was on fire following deliberate ignition.

They managed to quell the blazes before they spread to houses in Abbey Hills Road.

Hollins watch commander Andy Turner told The Oldham Times: “The message to parents is simple – control you kids.”

Firefighters battered their way into an unoccupied terraced house in Eccles Street, Oldham which had been broken into.

Fire destroyed the front room and caused serious damage to the rest of the property. They were on the scene for several hours until the live electricity supply was disconnected.