TODAY is set to be the hottest day of the year with temperatures expected to top a whopping 29C.

But it is nothing compared to the infernal heat firefighters and mountain rescue teams faced for more than a month as they tackled the blazes which broke out on Winter Hill on June 28, last year.

The fire was declared a ‘major incident’ 48 hours after breaking out and led to a 41 day operation involving thousands of firefighters, rescue workers, police and volunteers.

The flames damaged precious heather moorland, grassland and woodland, which were home to rare plants and animals such as the short-eared owl and lapwing.

Now, as life slowly returns to the fire-ravaged moorlands, the heroes who helped tackle last year’s devastating blazes are warning people to be extra careful and extra vigilant to ensure no new blazes break out this year as temperatures are again set to soar this weekend.

A spokesman for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team said: “Whilst some wildfires can occur naturally, unfortunately wildfires can also occur through deliberate ignition or carelessness.

“Ensure that cigarettes are discarded properly and fully extinguished, don’t light BBQs or campfires on moors or besides vehicles, ensure you take any litter home with you as glass bottles and broken glass can magnify in the sun and start a fire and talk to young people about the dangers of lighting fires.”

The Winter Hill fire was, and still is, the longest single deployment in Bolton Mountain Rescue Team’s 50-year history resulting in 1,750 hours of volunteer time spent supporting the incident.

During the ordeal the volunteers provided local area knowledge, mapping, communications, logistical support and immediate medical care.

Despite the coverage from Winter Hill and the thousands of messages of support firefighters received from the public, crews have continued to be called out to more incidents.

Just last week a family with young children was photographed having a barbecue on the moors at 8.45pm at night.

Fire bosses said they either didn’t see, or ignored, a ‘no barbecues sign’.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service hit out after the photograph was published on Twitter - and issued yet another warning to the public not to start fires on grass and moorland.

Police were also forced to issue a warning earlier this year after youths were seen running away from a deliberate blaze near Winter Hill in February.

Two quick thinking PCSOs spotted the fire, off a walkway near Freshfield Avenue in Bolton, and managed to put it out before it reached the tree line.

GMP Bolton South posted about the incident on Facebook saying ‘some people don’t learn their lesson’.

Now emergency workers are urging people to take care so a repeat is never seen.

This weekend temperatures are set to hit 29C across Bolton and the conditions are ripe for another devastating fire.

Andy Bond from The Woodland Trust, which owns much of the land around Winter Hill, said: “We have had reports of people lighting barbeques on the moorland but not necessarily within the boundaries of our land, however with warmer weather ahead we do ask that people do not light fires or use barbecues on Winter Hill and the surrounding area.

“It is an area that is particularly flammable and it is just not worth the risk of another devastating fire like we had last year.”

Steve Fletcher Team Leader with Bolton Mountain Rescue Team said: “The area surrounding Winter Hill holds a deep personal connection to me as it was my first experience of hillwalking as a Scout right through to mountain biking more recently, so it was sad to see the land destroyed in this way.”

If you see a wildfire immediately contact the Fire Service on 999 and move people to a safe area away from the direction the fire is travelling. If you are out walking try and give a map grid reference if possible or a nearby landmark and estimate the size of the area that is burning.

Consider the weather as strong winds can mean that the fires move across moorland quickly, and hills as fire will travel much quicker uphill than on level ground putting walkers in danger without any warning. And only if it is safe to do so, meet firefighters on arrival to provide any further information that you might have.