High Peak 'most at risk' for wildfires in country

A warning has been issued after new analysis suggested part of the Peak District was the most vulnerable area for wildfires in the country.

The Moorland Association - a membership body for estates and land managers - scored the High Peak area as 4.5 out of five - with five being the most hazardous level - in the wildfire risk factor.

The association said 2025 was "by far the worst we have had" for wildfires.

The Peak District has seen multiple significant wildfires in the past year, including a blaze that broke out on Thursday off Snake Pass near Glossop, which caused a "significant smoke plume".

Last month, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) tackled two "significant" wildfires within a 24-hour period in the High Peak area.

Ten fire engines were sent to the first moorland blaze off Snake Pass, near Ladybower Reservoir, on the morning of 23 April and later that day the service also attended a fire off Woodhead Pass at Woodhead Reservoir, near Glossop.

About 800,000 sq m of moorland was affected in total, according to DFRS.

The Moorland Association said: "High Peak is the most vulnerable constituency to wildfires.

"We face a wildfire crisis. Last year was by far the worst we have had."

It published a league table of areas nationwide after ranking them based on 10 indicators across three risk domains - hazard, exposure and vulnerability.

High Peak was ranked five for factors such as fuel load, fire weather and rural urban interface.

A high level of evacuation difficulty and old housing stock was also considered a high risk factor.

Labour MP for High Peak, Jon Pearce, said he would be repeating calls to retailers not to sell disposable barbecues ahead of the summer tourist season in the Peak District.

Disposable barbecues are a widely recognised fire risk when moorland becomes dry and highly flammable in particular.

High Peak Borough Council last year banned barbecues and campfires in parts of the Peak District in a bid to control the fires.

"High Peak's moorlands are not only a treasured part of our natural heritage, but they are also increasingly at risk," Pearce said.

"Being identified as the most vulnerable constituency to wildfires is deeply concerning, but sadly not surprising given what we've seen in recent years."

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