Maps have revealed the scale of the destruction caused by the wildfire that has been burning on the moorlands above Dovestone Reservoir, near Greenfield, Oldham, for nearly three weeks. An interactive map shows the extent of the burnt area, which is much larger than the reservoir itself, and experts have warned it could take years for the land to recover.
Woman charged with arson
A 20-year-old woman has been remanded in custody after being charged with arson in connection with the moorland fire. Shania Care-Slede appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court on July 14, charged with one count of arson while being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and one count of dangerous driving. Police have made further arrests.
Ecological emergency
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside said the fires have caused "mass fatality and a state of ecological emergency." The trust's spokesperson said the impact extends beyond the immediate burning area, with smoke affecting smaller animals with more delicate lungs.
In a statement, the spokesperson said: "The fires will have affected a lot of wildlife, not just in the immediate burning area, but also the smoke - which as we know is affecting human health incredibly far from the fire itself - will have also had a huge effect on smaller animals with much more delicate lungs than ours."
"Some of our favourite bird species like curlews and lapwings are still nesting at this time of year, and weeks of hard work raising chicks will have been gone in a second. Whole families wiped out."
They added: "Masses of invertebrates will have also perished, like butterflies and the dragonflies which come to bog pools to breed. Lizards, snakes, and mammals like the beautiful hare. Gone. It's a mass fatality, and a state of ecological emergency."
Access closed to the public
Oldham Council has closed all access to Dovestone Reservoir, with temporary traffic restrictions now in place. In a social media post on Wednesday evening, the council said: "Due to the ongoing major incident at Dovestone Reservoir, temporary traffic restrictions are now in place to help emergency services respond safely. Access to Dovestone is closed to the public. Access is only permitted for emergency services and residents."
The council added: "Please do not drive to the area or park on surrounding roads or in the car park, as this could block access for emergency vehicles and specialist machinery. Public rights of way in the affected area are also closed until 31 August. Thank you for your patience and cooperation while emergency services continue their work."
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said in a July 27 update: "Dovestone and Swaneshaw remain a major incident. We are now in a prolonged consolidation and containment phase, with crews and partners continuing to monitor and deal with hotspots while conditions remain dry and challenging."
The service added: "The rain so far has not been enough to significantly change the position, so the public ask remains critical: please stay away from affected areas, do not travel to the moorland to view the incident, keep access routes clear for emergency vehicles and partner agencies, follow health advice, and do not use BBQs, campfires, fireworks or any naked flames on or near moorland."
"Staying away helps keep people safe, protects access for fire crews and partner agencies, and reduces the risk of further ignition or disruption while work continues to bring the incident under control. For anyone wondering why closures and restrictions remain in place: although the visible fire activity may appear reduced, partners are still dealing with a major incident and moorland fires can continue to present risk even during this stage."
The RSPB is supporting the emergency response. Gemma Howarth, RSPB Area Manager, said: "Our team has been supporting the emergency responses to two major fires at RSPB Dove Stone, one which started on Wednesday 24 June and another which started on Saturday 11 July."
"We are extremely grateful to Greater Manchester and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Services and our other partners for their continuing efforts in trying to bring these incidents under control. All car parks and footpaths at the reserve are closed, and we urge visitors to stay away from the site for their own safety until further notice. Further updates will be provided on our website."
"The most recent fire comes after an earlier incident at Tintwistle Moor which began on 24 June and has since reignited. Over the past couple of weeks our team has been on site, working tirelessly alongside other partners to help support the Fire and Rescue Services to tackle these blazes."
