Air quality across Greater Manchester has shown improvement on July 17, but remains at moderate levels or worse as three major moorland fires continue to burn, pushing smoke across the region. Two major incidents were declared at Dovestone Reservoir in Oldham and Tintwistle Moor near Glossop, with a third blaze sparked on Thursday night after a car crash on the A628 Woodhead Pass.
Ongoing Moor Fires and Traffic Disruption
National Highways confirmed that firefighters are in attendance on the A628 Woodhead Pass between the A57 (Hollingworth) and A616 (Flouch), with the road shut in both directions. Images showed a car engulfed in flames following the crash, which then sparked another blaze on the moorland. The Tintwistle fire first broke out nearly three weeks ago and has spread over an area equivalent to at least 350 football pitches.
At Dovestone, firefighters were called on Saturday night, with 70 firefighters continuing to tackle the blaze. Fire chiefs described the area as 'really, really challenging' as the 'extensive wildfire' continued.
Current Air Quality Readings
New maps from July 17 show a general improvement, with no areas classed as unhealthy overall. However, all areas are at least 'moderate', with Ashton-under-Lyne and Chorlton-cum-Hardy scoring worst, rated as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups'. According to IQ Air, an AQI value of 0-50 represents good air quality. Ashton-under-Lyne has an AQI of 137, while Golborne near Wigan scores 124 and parts of Sale score 109—all above 100, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. The majority of Greater Manchester has scores between 60 and 100.
IQ Air advises that for values above 100, the general public should greatly reduce outdoor exertion, and sensitive groups should avoid all outdoor activity, wear pollution masks, and keep windows closed. The index measures six key pollutants including sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
Health Expert Warnings
Health experts have issued urgent warnings to those affected by wildfire smoke. Young children, elderly people, and those with respiratory conditions are advised to limit exposure. Matt Swallow, a GP specializing in respiratory medicine and clinical lead at the Asthma and Lung charity, told the M.E.N: "Wildfire smoke has lots of fine particles in it, which can travel deeper into the lungs and cause irritation and inflammation. When exercising, you are breathing in even more. If there is visible smoke and a strong smell, moving exercise indoors is the safer option, or avoiding it altogether."
He added: "For healthy adults, it will just cause short-term effects, but those who are really young or old, or who have asthma or COPD, are at greater risk. My advice is to continue taking prescribed medication. Bring it with you at all times, and reduce outdoor exposure. You might need your medication more frequently than you usually would—if you notice that it is no longer having the same effect, seek medical advice."
Residents living near Dovestone and Tintwistle have been urged to keep windows and doors closed.
