The Tintwistle Moor fire has burned across Derbyshire’s Peak District and was declared a major incident on July 13, leading to firefighters being drafted in to help from across the country
A major wildfire has continued to rage near Glossop in Derbyshire, pushing the nation’s firefighters to their limits.
The Tintwistle Moor fire has burned some 1,630 in the Derbyshire’s Peak District since it began on June 24. It was declared a major incident on July 13 with firefighters being drafted across the country to help contain the monster blaze.
But the sheer scale of the fire has pushed firefighters to their limits and has been a huge drain on resources. Clive Stanbrook, the deputy chief officer for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service described the operation as being “complex and challenging”.
Firefighters said the scale of the fire led crews to divide the affected area into sectors, namely Didsbury Sector, Crowden Sector, Arnfield Sector, and Featherbed Moss Sector.
“Around 65 firefighters from Derbyshire and across the UK, supported by partner organisations including the Fire Operations Group, are actively supporting the response to the Tintwistle Moor wildfire, with many more being rotated and mobilised when required,” Stanbrook told the BBC. “Thanks to their hard work, and the support of many colleagues behind the scenes, significant progress has been made.”
Dr Kirsten Lees, an environmental sciences lecturer, who specialises in zero carbon at the University of Derby told the BBC that Tintwistle is one of the biggest wildfires seen in England and there is no sign it is ending soon. She added: “Honestly, it’s upsetting and it’s really scary… My estimate is that it is about the size of a small town. As this is not out yet, we don’t know how much bigger it’s going to get.”
Rob Kenning, a ranger team manager for the Peak District National Park Authority, said it had been trialling having a seasonal ranger to patrol in the evenings in a bid to prevent wildfires in areas likely to attract tourists in the summer months. He said council officers have started to fine people £1,000 who use barbeques in areas of the Peak District.
But there are other areas in the country that are experiencing massive wildfires. The Fire Brigades Union said some 40,000 hectares have been burned in the past year across 1,000 incidents.
In 2026, fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 342 wildfires up to July 6, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council. The Fire Brigades Union has since urged the government to convene a summit to build resilience to further fires and to recruit 5,000 more firefighters across the country.
