UK wildfires surge across Devon, Peak District and Greater Manchester

A series of large wildfires have broken out across England during an intense heatwave. In Devon, a tractor ignited a field of baled straw, spreading to three fields and threatening a farmhouse. Nearby, a blaze on the Devon‑Somerset border near Wellington was tackled by four fire engines and specialist crews. The Peak District’s Tintwistle Moor saw a fire covering an area equivalent to 350 football pitches, prompting Derbyshire Fire & Rescue to declare a major incident and deploy multiple appliances and partners.

In Greater Manchester, a moorland fire near Dovestone Reservoir erupted after reports of loud bangs and footage of youths setting off fireworks. Fire crews launched an offensive operation, using hose lines, water supplies, drones and specialist wildfire units to contain the blaze. A separate fire near the former Ratcliffe‑on‑Soar Power Station in Nottinghamshire produced smoke visible for miles. Across the region, fire services have repeatedly warned the public to avoid affected areas, keep windows closed, and refrain from using fireworks, barbecues or campfires in dry conditions.

Multiple fire stations and regional services coordinated responses, with resources drawn from Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue, and Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue. The incidents underscore the heightened wildfire risk posed by the ongoing dry, hot weather.