A significant wildfire that swept through the Peak District, forcing the closure of a major road linking Sheffield and Manchester, has now been brought under control, according to fire services.
The A47 Snake Pass, a crucial route connecting the two major cities, was shut between Glossop and Ladybower Reservoir as thick smoke billowed across the moorland. The blaze, described as “large scale,” consumed approximately 900,000 square metres (9.69 million square feet) of land.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the fire late Thursday evening. Dramatic footage emerged showing firefighters battling the flames as they tore through the landscape. Crews from Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire were deployed to assist, alongside the Peak District Fire Operations Group, local gamekeepers, landowners, and Derby Mountain Rescue team.
Fire Under Control
By Friday evening, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue confirmed the fire was “now under control” and that the road had reopened to traffic. Residents were advised not to be alarmed if they observed smoke or “small pockets of flame” in the vicinity but were urged to keep windows and doors closed as a precautionary measure.
A statement from the service read: “Firefighters along with partners from the Fire Operations Group and Derby Mountain Rescue have been working hard to extinguish the fire at Snake Pass Summit throughout the day. The fire is now under control and final fire crews have withdrawn from the area, however the situation will continue to be monitored throughout the night.”
Crews are scheduled to return to the scene on Saturday morning at 06:00 hours to continue monitoring the situation.
Wildfire Vulnerability
Experts have identified High Peak, which encompasses approximately 208 square miles of the Peak District National Park, as the most wildfire-vulnerable parliamentary constituency in the country. This designation comes after two “significant” wildfires occurred at Ladybower Reservoir within 48 hours last month, prompting park authorities to remind visitors to avoid disposable barbecues and to take all litter home.
A spokesperson for the Moorland Association told the BBC: “High Peak is the most vulnerable constituency to wildfires. We face a wildfire crisis. Last year was by far the worst we have had.”
The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation has raised its wildfire risk index to red for all moorland areas in England and Wales following recent dry weather conditions.
