In the long, hot summer of 2006, accidental fires raged in the Peak District National Park causing over six hectares of damage to the delicate moorland environment. But just how and why did they start? Cath Flitcroft, BMC Access & Conservation Officer caught up with Fiona Draisey, Area Ranger for Longendale in the Peak District to find out more.

How many moorland fires hit the Peak District this year?
There have been eight fires in the Peak District and three serious fires to date: Bleaklow, Crowden, and the Roaches.

What makes a fire serious?
A serious fire has the potential to spread quickly and escalate into a big problem. These fires don’t just affect the surface vegetation but embed deep into the peat, and need a hell of a lot of water to put out. This year’s Stalybridge fire lasted for about 23 days and it wasn’t even extinguished when the rain started.

How do you stop the fires?
It depends on the time of year. In the spring the peat beneath the heather is wet which means that rangers, the fire service, gamekeepers and landowners can often tackle the fire with beaters. But in summer, dry peat means the fires will take a deep hold and beating is no good (it’ll just make the fire worse by adding more oxygen). In these situations you need water, but of course that’s very difficult to get hold of up on places like Bleaklow. Often helicopters are the only answer, but the landowner not only has to agree, they also have to pay for it. The helicopter will then collect water from an agreed location and start bombing the fire using buckets of water. Airlift bags carrying pumps, fuel, portable reservoirs, hoses etc are then transported to the site whilst the ranger service, fire service, gamekeepers and whoever else is involved walk in. Once faced with the fire, streams are also damned to help collect water, portable reservoirs are erected and the fire is fought onsite using hoses. It’s close partnership working, and we can be out there for up to 16 hours a day.

As an Area Ranger what’s your role?
We’re responsible for the safety of the personnel; guiding the fire service on and off the moors and taking them to the problem areas. We also help put the fires out. In addition to the equipment of the fire service and local landowners, the Peak Park has four fire trailers, two centaurs and two quadbikes.

What’s the cause of these fires?
Wildfires are often accidentally started by the general public: cigarettes, BBQs and campfires can all be at fault. Often they start near a public footpath.

How can these be prevented?
It’s all common sense really. If you smoke on the moors, stub your cigarette out on a stone or on the sole of your shoe and take the fag butt home (Moors for the Future provide free “butts & gum” pouches for this). Camping isn’t allowed on any Open Access area unless the landowner has specifically given you permission, so don’t camp, and definitely don’t start a campfire. Likewise don’t fire up a BBQ in a high-risk area. And if you see a fire, call 999, give them a general location and try to contact the ranger service as soon as possible.

Why are there so many fires in the north of the Peak Park?
Much of the northern area is isolated, so if there is an accidental fire it takes longer to pick it up. And the fires tend to be more serious as they’re harder to get access and have poor water supplies.

When the Met Office releases the top fire severity index of 5 do all the National Parks have to close their Open Access areas?
Yes, the Countryside Rights of Way Act is suspended temporarily and the moors are automatically closed unless the landowner requests that access continues. The Peak District National Park kept the moors that they own open during the last closure at the end of July.

Have recent fires affected any of the climbing?
Nope. In fact during the July Roaches fire, climbing actually continued whilst the fire was being tackled just above.

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