Firefighters are battling a large wildfire in the Peak District amid soaring temperatures in the UK during an unprecedented June heatwave. The fire ignited at Tintwistle Moor above Woodhead Road on Wednesday at approximately 10 pm, destroying wooded and grassy areas near Glossop and Tameside, according to reports from the Manchester Evening News.

Teams from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have been actively combating the blaze since Thursday, with six fire crews, a water carrier, and a welfare unit deployed to the scene. The fire crews briefly left the area at 2 am due to diminishing light but returned at 4 am to continue their efforts.

Dramatic footage shared by the Derby Mountain Rescue Team illustrates the extensive scale of the fire, affecting around 400 square meters of moorland and woodland as confirmed by the fire service. Concurrently, the Met Office announced a record-breaking temperature of 36.7°C in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday afternoon, marking it as the hottest June day ever recorded in the UK.

This new temperature milestone surpasses the previous record set on Wednesday when temperatures peaked at 36.1°C in Gosport, Hampshire, breaking the long-standing June record from 1976. High Peak MP Jon Pearce expressed his concern over the wildfire on Tintwistle Moor, highlighting the vulnerability of the region to such incidents, emphasizing the importance of protecting moorlands and communities during hot, dry weather conditions.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has closed the A628 Woodhead Pass between the Gun Inn, Mottram Moor (A57), and the Flouch roundabout at the junction with the A616. They advise people to avoid the area and recommend individuals to keep windows and doors closed if they smell or see smoke. National Highways have confirmed the closure of the A628 Woodhead Pass in both directions between the A57 and A616 due to the fire, suggesting motorists use the M62 as an alternative route.