Greater Manchester Dovestone moorland fire declared major incident, arson suspect arrested

A major incident was declared after a large moorland fire broke out near Dovestone Reservoir in Greater Manchester. Firefighters from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, specialist wildfire teams and partner agencies have been battling the blaze since Saturday evening, establishing a water supply and conducting offensive hose‑line operations. Smoke from the fire has been visible across Greater Manchester, prompting residents to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid the Dovestone area.

Police investigations led to the arrest of a 20‑year‑old woman on suspicion of arson. She was taken into custody by Greater Manchester Police’s Oldham CID and remains under questioning while enquiries continue. Authorities have urged the public not to speculate on social media and to report any information to the police.

Roads around the reservoir remain closed, with access restricted to local residents and authorised personnel. The fire service continues to monitor hotspots and work to bring the incident under control.