Busy Derbyshire A-road remains closed as efforts to tackle wildfire continue – with blaze engulfing area equivalent to 1,250 Wembley Stadium pitches
Efforts are continuing to tackle a Derbyshire wildfire that has engulfed an area equivalent to 1,250 Wembley Stadium pitches – with a busy A-road remaining closed.
The response to a major wildfire at Tintwistle Moor is continuing – with fire crews from across the country working the bring the blaze under control.
A Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “While heavy rain began falling across the area yesterday morning (Sunday, July 26) and is providing some welcome assistance to crews, it has not brought the incident to an end. The rainfall is helping to dampen vegetation and reduce fire activity in some locations, supporting the significant progress already made by firefighters and partner agencies as work continues to fully extinguish the fire.
“Despite the change in weather conditions, this remains a large, complex and resource-intensive incident. Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service crews are working alongside partner organisations and members of the Fire Operations Group (FOG). Firefighters from across the UK, deployed through National Resilience arrangements, also continue to operate across all four sectors of the fireground to extinguish remaining hotspots, reduce the risk of re-ignition and bring the incident safely to a conclusion.
“Our 999 control operators also remain a vital part of the response, continuing to handle other emergency calls while managing and logging the movements of all emergency services vehicles attached to the incident.
“The terrain and scale of the incident remain significant. On Friday July 24, we shared that the wildfire affecting Tintwistle Moor in Derbyshire, together with the adjacent wildfire being managed by colleagues from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, covers an area equivalent to approximately 1,250 football pitches. To put that into perspective, this is roughly 1,250 Wembley Stadium pitches laid side by side, around 1,660 rugby pitches, approximately 8.5 times the size of Hyde Park in London and roughly 12 times the size of New York’s Central Park.
“This scale illustrates both the complexity of the firefighting operation and the considerable effort required to fully extinguish deep-seated fires burning within the peat beneath the surface. Peat fires can remain active underground for prolonged periods and may reignite if not completely extinguished, which is why firefighting activity continues despite the recent rainfall.
“The A628 remains closed to allow firefighters, emergency services partners and specialist vehicles to operate safely. We would like to reiterate our thanks to local communities, businesses, and road users for their continued patience and cooperation.”
The fire service repeated their calls for people to behave responsibly and reduce the risk of any further incidents breaking out.
A spokesperson added: “Although rain has fallen across the area, the risk of wildfire has not disappeared. Vegetation can dry quickly, and there remains the potential for existing hotspots to reignite and for new fires to start elsewhere.
“There is plenty of wildfire signage across the Peak District asking people to be aware of the risk of wildfires and how to prevent them, but we continue to share our message, asking everyone to take sensible precautions to prevent wildfires and to protect the vital habitats for animals and unique vegetation.
Do not use disposable or portable barbecues. Do not light campfires or any other open fires. Dispose of smoking materials responsibly. Take litter home, particularly glass bottles and other items that could start a fire. Avoid affected moorland areas and follow any restrictions or safety advice in place. Report any signs of fire immediately by calling 999.
“We would also remind people not to ignore road closure signs or attempt to access restricted areas. Closures remain in place to protect public safety and support the ongoing emergency response.
“We would like to thank everyone who has played, or who continues to play a part in the response to the fire at Tintwistle – this continues to be a huge collective effort demonstrating excellent team work on the largest of scales.”