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Fire risk reminder after big blaze at Peak District beauty spot June 2, 2020

The fire at Ashway Gap above Dovestones Reservoir at GreenfieldLooking like matchsticks against the vast hillside, firefighters tackle the blazeFire engines could only park up at base campA major moorland fire at a Yorkshire Peak District beauty spot on Tuesday June 2 served as a reminder of the risks to moorland of anything which might cause a spark on the dry vegetation.

Firefighters faced a massive effort throughout the afternoon to prevent the spread of the blaze high on the moors. Some overnight rain on Tuesday night helped extinguish the fire, but that rain has quickly soaked into the dry peat ground and there remains a fire risk to dry moorland vegetation in the weeks ahead.

The fire was in the Ashway Gap on Saddleworth Moor high above the popular Dovestones Reservoir at Greenfield in the Saddleworth area, formerly part of the West Riding and now in Greater Manchester.

The distant plume of smoke as seen from Standedge above MarsdenTen fire engines from Greater Manchester were sent to points as close as they could get to the scene, but dozens of firefighters had to work on foot to deal with the spread of the fire on the tinder dry moors. Other units also attended from West Yorkshire and Lancashire and a helicopter from reservoir company United Utilities was also brought in to drop water on the fire.

A large plume of smoke could be seen rising from the moors for miles around.

Notices have been put up at several moorland car parks warning not to light barbecues or fires. Dropped cigarettes and glass which can magnify the suns rays pose another danger.

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