These photos show the aftermath following a wildfire that emerged across the moorlands in Tintwistle, near Greater Manchester. Derbyshire and Manchester fire crews battled for three hours last night (March 26) against high winds to battle the blaze.
Three fire engines from Gorton and Hyde, and a wildfire unit from Stalybridge, attended the scene. Strong winds blew smoke and ash into the air which was reported from a number of Manchester residents.
Steve Gribbon tweeted: “Tonight and crews from @manchesterfire and @DerbyshireFRS have worked hard in very difficult conditions to control a wildfire in Tintwistle. We have been up there for over 3 hours in high winds. Please be very careful in moorland especially with such dry conditions.”
READ MORE:
This morning (March 27) photos show a number of fire engines still at the scene as smoke billows across the moors.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service earlier tweeted: "Firefighters are currently dealing with a moorland fire above #Tintwistle. Crews from @GlossopFireStn @chapel_on @WhaleyFire and @BuxtonFire were called just after 19.30 last night & will remain there for some time today. @manchesterfire #firestoppers."
A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Last night (26 March) we supported colleagues at Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service with wildfires on moorland in Tintwistle.
“Three fire engines from Gorton and Hyde and a wildfire unit from Stalybridge attended the scene.
“Firefighters worked hard to extinguish the fire in windy conditions.
“This wind was also blowing in the direction of Manchester and therefore some residents within the Greater Manchester boundary reported smoke and ash in the air. This was likely blown across from the moors.
“We continue to remind the public to be safe if visiting moorland areas.”
According to reports, the area of moorland involved spans around 400 metres square between Tintwistle and Crowden, off the Woodhead Road. It's the second moorland blaze in the area in as many weekends, with a blaze breaking out in Derbyshire at Tintwistle Low Moor last Saturday.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service issued an alert this week warning of an increase in 'significant moorland fires' across the UK in the first three months of the year. "Since the beginning of 2022 there have been 48 significant moorland fires, with 20 occurring over the first warm weekend of 2022," said the service.
Wild Fire Lead for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, Station Manager Mark King said: "With the arrival of the warmer weather that is predicted to continue through April, we are already seeing an increase in significant wild fires so we must act to protect our countryside and moorland across the Peak District.
"Fire can spread rapidly over dry grasses and through deep seated peat bogs, meaning firefighters are tied up for prolonged periods of time with the potential to cause a knock-on delay in responding to other life risk incidents across the county."
Click here for the latest headlines from the Manchester Evening News
