Barbecue alert after fire on Peak District moorland
FIREFIGHTERS battled to control a blaze that destroyed hectares of land near to a Peak District beauty spot.
Crews from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Rushup Edge, near to Mam Tor, on Saturday afternoon.
A total of six crews from Derbyshire and Greater Manchester rushed to the site to prevent the fire from spreading and threatening an area where lambing was taking place.
Firefighters say the blaze is thought to have begun after a barbecue got out of control at around 1.45pm.
It spread across an area equivalent to about four football pitches.
It comes less than a week after fire crews were called to another blaze in the Peak District, with that incident taking place near Baslow.
In a post on Facebook, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service urged people not to bring barbecues into the National Park.
It said: “Firefighters have been tackling yet another moorland fire in the Peak District. Initial reports indicate this could have been caused by people cooking close to the footpath/bridlepath!
“Act responsibly – do not take BBQs into the Peak District.
“Just before 2pm, six crews responded to the fire and worked alongside Peak Rangers and Mountain Rescue to prevent the spread of fire and protect an area of farmland where ewes were lambing.
“The fire involved approximately three hectares of farmland at Rushup Edge.
“Crews from Chapel-en-le-frith, Buxton, Bakewell, New Mills and Glossop, supported by Marple from Greater Manchester Fire And Rescue Service, used an Argo all-terrain vehicle, fan blowers, beaters and water packs to extinguish the fire, leaving the scene at 5pm this evening.
“Moorland fires not only destroy our beautiful countryside, they destroy vital habitat for our wildlife. They are labour intensive and take vital emergency services away from being available to respond to other emergencies.
“Help us spread the message that taking BBQs into the Peak
District is irresponsible, no matter how careful you think you are being!”
The Peak District National Park also urged people not to have barbecues in the park.
It tweeted: “The open countryside of the Peak District is not a place to have your BBQ or open fire this weekend, or any weekend.
“Please do not put wildlife, landscapes, livelihoods and the lives of those fighting fires at risk.”