Wildfire Shuts Peak District’s Snake Pass
Residents in nearby town told to close doors and windows because of ‘significant smoke plume’
The warm and dry weather conditions and moderate winds is likely to ‘keep the fire moving’ Credit: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images
A large wildfire has closed the Peak District’s Snake Pass.
The route, dubbed England’s most magnificent road, was shut in both directions on Friday while emergency services dealt with the “large-scale” fire.
The blaze was brought under control on Friday night but continued to affect visibility on the roads in the surrounding area. Residents in the market town of Glossop were instructed to keep their windows and doors closed if they can see or smell the “significant smoke plume”.
Smoke was seen in parts of Oldham and Tameside as well as Little Hulton in Salford on Friday morning.
Wildfires have been prolific across the UK in recent days, with grass fires in Elan Valley, Wales, continuing for a fifth day and forestry burning in South Wales’ Brecon Beacons.
The Snake Pass fire has affected the visibility on the road in the surrounding area
The Snake Pass fire has affected the visibility on the road in the surrounding area
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had been informed of the fire on Thursday evening and that fire crews had attended the blaze on Friday morning.
The fire service reported that approximately 1,200 metres by 600 metres of the Snake Pass area had been affected so far. Last week, a wildfire blazed across moorland near the Ladybower Reservoir, where Snake Pass ends.
Nine fire engines were sent to tackle the Snake Pass fire, with additional support from two wildfire units, a rural unimog, welfare unit, fuel bowser, two water carriers and a helicopter.
A spokesman for the Met Office told The Telegraph: “The ongoing dry, warm, but often breezy, weather has resulted in the conditions for wildfires being rated as severe across large parts of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland this week.”
They added: “High winds cause fires to spread faster, and wildfires are more severe during extended periods of hot dry weather.”
Nine fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze
Nine fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze
This April was drier, warmer and sunnier than average across the UK, according to new data from the Met Office.
Temperatures reached highs of 25C in Heathrow, Northolt and Kew Gardens on Friday.
The Peak District Moorland group, a society of gamekeepers, told the BBC that the weather conditions “will only dry out the moss even more” and that moderate winds were moving the fire at pace.
Snake Pass is renowned for blind bends and views. The plateau of Kinder Scout, which is known for the protest to secure rights to open country in 1932, is visible from where the road winds through the Hope Valley.
The public highway passes through the National Trust’s High Peak Estate, characterised by its tors and heather moors. The national park is home to red grouse, breeding hen harriers, curlew and other moorland birds.
This article originally appeared on the The Telegraph.