Tintwistle Moor Fire Has Been Burning for Over a Month and Is 'the Size of a Small Town'

A huge wildfire on Tintwistle Moor in northern England has been burning for more than a month, and it is still not out. The fire started on June 24 in the Peak District, a rugged area of hills and moorland. Officials declared it a major incident on July 13, and experts say it is one of the biggest wildfires ever seen in England. The blaze has grown so large that it can even be spotted from space.

Scientists say the fire has burned about 606 hectares — roughly 1,630 acres, or the same as 900 football pitches. That is larger than the nearby town of Hadfield, which is home to about 6,700 people. Dr. Kirsten Lees, an environmental scientist at the University of Derby, said the fire is comparable in scale to two other major wildfires England has seen in recent years. 'My estimate is that it is about the size of a small town,' she said. 'As this is not out yet, we don't know how much bigger it's going to get.'

The long stretch of hot, dry weather has made fighting the fire very difficult. Around 65 firefighters from Derbyshire and across the UK have been working on the blaze. To manage such a large area, crews split the ground into four sections. Helicopters have also been flying overhead, dropping loads of water onto the flames. Clive Stanbrook, deputy chief fire officer for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, called the operation 'complex and challenging' but said significant progress has been made.

One of the biggest problems firefighters face is what is actually burning. The moor is covered in heather, woody shrubs, and deep layers of peat — a dark, spongy material made from decomposed plants. Peat builds up over thousands of years and burns like a fuel. Dr. Lees explained that once a fire gets into the peat, it is very hard to stop and can keep reigniting even after it seems to be out.

Workers on the ground described the experience as exhausting but rewarding. Kate Wilson, a 40-year-old ranger with the Peak District National Park Authority, has been searching for hidden hot spots and helping stop the fire from spreading. 'It's really hot, really hard work, you get really dirty, but also you feel like you're doing good work,' she said. She described feelings of both sadness and teamwork among the crew.

The fire has had a devastating effect on wildlife. Birds that nest on the ground, such as curlews and skylarks, are especially at risk because they cannot escape fast-moving flames. Their eggs and chicks can be completely destroyed. Mammals and insects have also been killed, and habitats that many species depend on can take decades to recover.

The peatlands are also very important for people. They provide drinking water, store carbon, and give people places to enjoy nature. When peat burns, it releases carbon that took hundreds or thousands of years to build up. Craig Best of the National Trust said: 'Every millimetre of peat takes approximately 100 years to accumulate.' This carbon release contributes to climate change, which makes future wildfires more likely.

Smoke from the fire has affected people living nearby. Fine particles in smoke can get deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, which is especially dangerous for people with health conditions, older people, and children. A local farmer said people near the fire were distressed by the heavy smoke. Dr. Lees also warned that when rain finally arrives, the runoff could pollute nearby reservoirs and make drinking water more expensive to clean.

Rangers and fire officials are working to prevent future fires. New rules can fine people up to £1,000 for starting fires or using barbecues in parts of the Peak District. The Fire Brigades Union is urging the government to hold a National Wildfire Summit and to hire 5,000 more firefighters. Dr. Lees said that wildfires in the UK used to surprise people, but added: 'Now it seems like we're seeing them every summer.'