The blaze began almost three weeks ago
Around 60 people have been battling the Tintwistle Moor fires today (July 28) more than three weeks on from the start of the blaze.
A major incident was declared in the area on July 12 after the blaze broke out on July 9 – following an earlier fire which crews tackled from June 24 to July 2.
Today Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were ‘continuing to make progress’ on the blaze but that it remained a ‘complex’ and ‘challenging’ incident, asking the public to not ignore road closures and continue to take precautions to prevent further fires.
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They also said that Woodhead Pass (A628) remained closed and would do until at least tomorrow (July 29).
The road between Hollingworth and Flouch has been closed since July 16 after a dramatic car fire broke out and spread to the nearby moors.
“Before the road can fully reopen, a detailed assessment of fire-damaged trees within the Didsbury sector will need to be carried out to ensure the area is safe for road users,” the fire service said, thanking local communities and businesses for their ‘continued patience’.
Photos taken by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service who have been assisting at the scene show swathes of blackened and smoking moorland as fire fighters from across the UK continue to assist DFRS’ operations.
In a full statement, the service said: “Firefighters and partner agencies continue to make progress at the major wildfire incident at Tintwistle Moor, with operations continuing across all four sectors of the fireground.
“A total of 60 personnel have been deployed throughout today, with activity focused on containing the fire perimeter, extinguishing remaining hotspots, tackling deep-seated peat fires and reducing the risk of re-ignition.
“While significant progress has been made, the incident remains complex. 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.
“Partner organisations, members of the Fire Operations Group (FOG), and firefighters from across the UK deployed through National Resilience arrangements remain on scene supporting the response.
“This remains a major incident due to the scale of the affected area, the challenging terrain and the complexity of the firefighting operation. Work will continue until the fire has been fully contained and extinguished.
“We would like to thank everyone involved in the response, as well as local communities, businesses and road users, for their continued support, patience and cooperation while this complex incident remains ongoing.”







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