A 20-year-old woman has been charged with aggravated arson after a major wildfire erupted on moorland near Dovestone Reservoir, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed on Tuesday. Shania Care-Slede, of Market Street, Hyde, also faces charges of being reckless as to whether life was endangered and dangerous driving. She has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on July 14.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Appeal
A GMP spokesperson stated: "These charges relate to an ongoing fire at Dovestones Reservoir, which remains under investigation. Officers are continuing to pursue a number of lines of enquiry and are seeking to identify any other individuals who may have been involved." The force thanked the community for submitting video footage and urged the public to avoid speculation online due to active criminal proceedings.
Detective Inspector Andrew Day added: "While we have secured charges against one individual, our investigation remains ongoing. Detectives are carefully reviewing all available evidence to identify anyone else who may have been involved in criminality linked to this incident." He emphasised that anyone identified as having committed a criminal offence can expect to be dealt with robustly.
Firefighting Efforts and Impact
Firefighters from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were first called to the Dovestone area in Oldham on Saturday night. A major incident was declared on Monday afternoon as crews worked to contain the blaze and prevent further spread across the moorland amid hot weather conditions. The fire, along with another major blaze at Tintwistle, has blanketed large parts of Greater Manchester in plumes of smoke. Crews continue to battle the fire on Tuesday.
Anyone with footage or information that may assist GMP's investigation can submit it via the Dovestones Fire Evidence Submission Portal at https://gmp.uk.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/dovestonesfire.
