Moor Inferno! Police Act Amid Dovestone Blaze Barbecue Scare

Multiple major moorland fires have gripped areas across Greater Manchester, most notably near Dovestone Reservoir in Greenfield, Oldham, and at Swineshaw, demanding a significant response from emergency services. The blaze near Dovestone Reservoir erupted on Saturday, July 11, while another extensive wildfire near Tintwistle, Glossop, has been burning for approximately three weeks, devastating an area equivalent to at least 350 football pitches. These ongoing incidents have resulted in vast plumes of smoke visible across the region and beyond.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) swiftly launched an investigation into the Dovestone fire. Shania Care-Slede, 20, of Market Street in Hyde, has been charged in connection with the moorland fire, facing one count of dangerous driving and one count of arson, being reckless to whether life was endangered. She appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, July 14, and was subsequently bailed, with her next appearance scheduled at Manchester Crown Court on August 18. In separate developments, a 19-year-old woman and a man in his 20s were also arrested on suspicion of arson related to the Dovestone incident; both have since been bailed pending further enquiries. Detective Inspector Andrew Day of GMP's Oldham division highlighted the devastating impact of the fire on the reservoir and appealed to the public to refrain from social media speculation, instead directing any information pertinent to the live investigation directly to the police. He also extended appreciation to emergency service partners and the local community for their crucial assistance.

Firefighters from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), alongside numerous other agencies, have been contending with "challenging conditions" for over a week to bring the widespread blazes at Dovestone and Swineshaw under control. Despite the severity of the situation, GMFRS issued an urgent warning after individuals were observed lighting barbecues on the affected moorland areas. The service emphatically urged the public to "stay away from affected moorland areas and must not light BBQs, campfires or any other open flames," stressing that such preventable fires divert critical emergency resources and heighten the risk to lives and the environment.

The extensive nature of these incidents has necessitated a robust multi-agency response. Specialist national resilience teams, in conjunction with fire and rescue services from Derbyshire, South Wales, Lancashire, and Hereford & Worcester, are collaborating with various local authorities and partner organizations. These include the RSPB, National Trust, the Eastern Moors Partnership, United Utilities, local landowners, and the gamekeeping community. Fire crews are diligently creating additional firebreaks to restrict the spread of the flames, while vital helicopter support is being utilized for continuous water drops and aerial surveys, which are indispensable for tackling fires in difficult and remote moorland terrain.