Anxious villagers say fires getting worse every year

Villagers living in the shadow of a Greater Manchester moorland fire that continues to burn after three weeks say they "feel like they've been hurt" after the treasured landscape went up in flames.

Firefighters are still tackling the blaze at Dove Stone Reservoir in Saddleworth, which broke out on 11 July after a period of hot weather and low rainfall, before merging with other wildfires.

For those living in nearby Greenfield, road closures and the near-constant movement of fire engines have become a regular sight.

Deborah Hill, who works in interior design shop My Secret Boutique, said: "I think it's worrying about what is up there with the animals and wildlife and how long it will take for it to recover."

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The fires are happening every year and they are getting worse every year. This is a bad one because it has gone on for weeks. That is worrying."

While things have quietened now, she said: "Every day you generally see about six fire engines going past. You might see at least two police cars. Sirens all the time. It's like being in the city.

"It just makes you sad. You feel like you have been hurt. This is our land. It's just really sad."

An area the equivalent of more than 1,250 football pitches of moorland has burned in the fire, leaving a blackened scar on the rural Saddleworth landscape.

Roads remain temporarily shut in the area, with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue still treating the fire as a "major incident".

Recent rain has not made a significant difference, and the public has been reminded to stay away.

People have been told not to drive there or park on nearby roads in case this blocks access for emergency vehicles and specialist machinery.

For those in Greenfield, life has been largely unaffected by the blaze with smoke mainly blowing in the other direction.

While some said there had been a drop in visitors, Melanie Harrop, from Harrop's Farm Shop, said the fire had had no impact.

She added: "They were going past every day, on some days it was like 10 fire engines going past. It was just barmy but they have got it a bit under control now."

Harrop said she hopes authorities will focus more on tackling issues that can lead to fires, adding: "I think it's awful. I think it's horrible and I am glad it's closed. They should have someone going around checking for barbecues."

Villager Karen Welton argued there needs to be tighter regulation and more education to protect the moors.

While the promotion of Dove Stone has brought money into the area through tourism, several people in the village told the LDRS it had struggled to cope in recent years.

For some, the road closures are a relief as they had previously avoided the crowded reservoir on weekends due to a influx of visitors.

Sarah White said: "The parking situation got worse during Covid. They were blocking the roads. You couldn't even get through at the time."

The Dovestone Sailing Club has not been able to get on the lake like they usually would during the summer months.

One member Anne Webb fears the lake might now be too low, adding: "It's probably going to be quite an unpleasant area to be in because of the smoke and you'll see the charred remains."

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