'Significant progress' made tackling moorland fire

Firefighters have made "significant progress" tackling a major moorland fire in Derbyshire, officials have said.

Crews were first called to Tintwistle Moor, near Glossop in Derbyshire, on 24 June, and a major incident was declared on 13 July.

Analysis of data from the European Forest Fire Information System (Effis) by BBC Verify estimates the fire, which began at Tintwistle Moor, near Glossop on 24 June, has burned 606 hectares (1,630 acres).

Clive Stanbrook, deputy chief fire officer for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said on Thursday although progress had been made, it remained a "complex and challenging" incident.

The service said it was working with its partner agencies to bring the major incident to a "safe conclusion as quickly as possible".

National Highways said the A628 was expected to remain closed in both directions between the A57 at Hollingworth and the A616 at Flouch until at least Monday.

Firefighters said the ground affected had been divided into four sectors - Didsbury Sector, Crowden Sector, Arnfield Sector and Featherbed Moss Sector - to allow teams to focus resources on specific areas.

The service said in the Didsbury Sector there was no active firefighting taking place, with crews monitoring conditions.

In the Crowden Sector - which was was originally the main seat of the fire - it said firefighters were continuing with wet line damping down, a process that involves thoroughly soaking affected ground to extinguish hotspots.

It added the Arnfield Sector was an area of active firefighting with crews working in "challenging terrain" to extinguish remaining areas of fire.

In the Featherbed Moss Sector the service said crews were actively damping down affected areas.

Stanbrook said: "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.

"Thanks to their hard work, and the support of many colleagues behind the scenes, significant progress has been made.

"However, this remains a complex and challenging incident.

Effis estimates the damage caused by a wildfire at Dovestone Reservoir, north of the Tintwistle blaze, is about 90 hectares (220 acres).

The impact of the fires has been captured in a satellite image taken by specialist satellite firm Planet Labs last Friday.

Fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 342 wildfires up to 6 July, according to data from the National Fire Chiefs Council.

The fire service has urged members of the public not to ignore road closure signs near the Tintwistle fire "to allow our emergency responders and partner agencies safe access to the affected areas as operations continue".

People have also been warned to stay away from areas affected by the fire, and to avoid using barbecues or starting campfires on moorland.

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