Careless Campers Blamed For Moorland Blaze

Access land in the Peak District National Park is open to walkers and climbers once more, but walker are being urged to remain vigilant as irresponsible campers are blamed for a moorland fire above Glossop.

Firefighters in the area spent four hours dealing with a blaze above Crowden at the weekend with four engines and a helicopter being used to douse flames on an area of moorland.

Speaking to the Glossop Advertiser, a spokesman for the local fire brigade blamed careless wild campers saying that they'd left debris around and had obviously fled in a hurry after a camp fire got out of hand on the tinder-dry moorland.

'There was debris around and campers had been seen earlier in the day. Their irresponsibility is costing thousands of pounds.'

He went on to say that it costs £750 per hour to hire a helicopter, even at a discounted rate and that a recent fire on Bleaklow started 'in the same way'.

Recent rain will have reduced the risk somewhat but drier weather will rapidly increase the dangers again. Peak Park Head of access and recreation Sean Prendergast said: "We are still urging people to take caution on the moors, this doesn't mean that they are safe - the moors are still susceptible to fire, and we're appealing to people not to smoke, light naked flames or barbecues."

There is no right to camp on open access land in England and Wales and though discrete wild camping has always taken place in the area, it's clearly not a good idea in the recent tinder-dry conditions where a small spark could start a blaze. Building a camp fire in the circumstances simply beggars belief.