Upset over Dovestone fire in Greenfield

People living in the shadow of an ‘absolutely appalling’ fire that covered Greater Manchester in smoke ‘feel like they’ve been hurt’ after a treasured landscape went up in flames.

For weeks, emergency services have been operating at the Dove Stone Reservoir following a devastating fire in the area. More than 1,250 football pitches of beautiful moorland have burned and the flames have left a black scar on the landscape.

While operations have been scaled back with the helicopters once see fighting the blaze now gone, fire engines heading to and from the scene are still a regular sight for those living in the village of Greenfield.

On July 29, Oldham council reminded people due to the ongoing major incident, temporary traffic restrictions are in place to help emergency services respond. People are being urged not to drive to the area or park on nearby roads in case this blocks access for emergency vehicles and specialist machinery.

Despite authorities urging people to stay away from the area as it is meant to be closed off to the public, the LDRS was told people are still walking in the area on a regular basis. Despite rain in the last week, conditions have not been wet enough to put the fire out. ‘Partners are still dealing with a major incident and moorland fires can continue to present risk even during this stage’, the town hall said.

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.”

Going forward, she hopes authorities will focus more on tackling issues that can lead to fires in moorland areas, 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.”

While the promotion of Dove Stone has brought money into the area through tourism, several people in the village told the LDRS the area had struggled to cope in recent years. For some, the road closures are a relief as they had previously avoided the ‘ridiculously 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.” Dave, who did not give his full name, added: “We need more car parking.

“You are trying to encourage people in for tourism and there’s not enough car parking and with no car parking, they park anywhere.”

Even now, one woman said: “They are coming to stop and to look at where it’s burned. They park on the pavement and on the road – wherever they can find a space.”

For many in the village, the fire has been upsetting for both its impact on the wildlife, trees in a nearby memorial garden, and damage to the picturesque landscape.

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 now 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.”

Like many, Karen Welton (pictured) argued there needs to be tighter regulation and more education to protect the moors like they do in other parts of the country. While more enforcement to protect the area would come at a cost, it was pointed out it would probably still be cheaper than the major operation and air crews needed to tackle the flames for weeks.

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 added: “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.”