Fire Service Thanks Peak District Gamekeepers for Summer on the Front Line

The Peak District Moorland Group and individual gamekeepers have received a letter of thanks from Dave Russel, Chief Fire Officer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), recognising their efforts during a summer of dry weather and wildfires.

Throughout the season, gamekeepers worked tirelessly alongside fire crews, tackling some of the most severe and dangerous wildfires the moors have seen. According to the letter, wildfires across Greater Manchester burned for a total of 32 days. The major incident at Swineshaw and Dovestone was the longest-running the service has had to manage since the summer of 2018.

The letter also makes clear that firefighters are not the only ones who put themselves in harm's way. Gamekeepers, landowners and farmers are often first on the scene, bringing local knowledge, equipment and an intimate understanding of the terrain. Without them this summer, the fire service acknowledges, the damage could have been far worse.

Richard Bailey, coordinator of the Peak District Moorland Group, said: "Hats off to all the workers that put in the hard graft in the smoke for extended hours and extended days and weeks. It's great to get recognition from a forward-thinking FRS that can see the issues and is not afraid of implementing actions that prevented a larger-scale fire."

This summer provides a stark reminder of the problem at the heart of moorland wildfires: fuel load. The connectivity of vegetation between moorland habitats needs to be reduced to prevent fires spreading rapidly across the landscape.

Tackling wildfires begins long before the first flame. The government needs to change policy so that those who manage the land can reduce fuel loads and protect the moors, their wildlife and surrounding communities before the next dry summer arrives.