Live: A-road closed as dozens of firefighters tackle moor blaze (2025)

End of live coverage

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Response being scaled back

In an update in the past few minutes, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service told the M.E.N. that its response is now starting to be scaled back.

But some pockets of fire still remain, which crews are working to bring under control.

What we know so far

You can read a round-up of what we know so far about this incident, here.

Fire now covers area of three square miles

The fire now covers an area of around three square miles around the New Year's Bridge reservoir in Denshaw, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) have said.

Smoke seen from Bury

We have had reports of the smoke from the fire being visible and smelt around the M66 in Bury, earlier this evening

Fire being fanned by high-winds

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) are now leading the response to the incident, which seems to be centred around the New Year's Bridge reservoir near Denshaw.

However crews from West Yorkshire are still assisting.

GMFRS said the fire was being fanned by high-winds and that the situation was 'very challenging'

A spokesperson said

Crews remain at the scene of a very challenging fire on the moorland.

Firefighters are working hard to bring the fire under control against high winds with support from colleagues at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

We ask that the public stay well away from the area.”

Big fire service presence near Denshaw

The current hub of activity on the Greater Manchester side is near Wham Lane and Huddersfield Road, near Denshaw

More dramatic images

We've been sent further dramatic images which show the extent and scale of the fire currently being tackled

Dramatic pictures show fire raging on moors

These dramatic pictures show fires raging on the moorland between Marsden and Oldham

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service sends resources to help

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) have also sent resources to help.

They have diverted personnel who had been tackling the earlier, separate, fire around Greenfield and Dovestone reservoir, which has now been extinguished.

A spokesperson said:

Firefighters are currently supporting colleagues from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service at a moorland fire at Castleshaw Reservoir.

Four fire engines from Agecroft, Mossley, Philips Park and Blackley fire stations are at the scene. Residents are advised to stay away from the area and keep doors and windows closed.”

15 fire engines tackling blaze

In an update at 6pm, WYFRS said:

We currently have 15 crews plus the Command Unit tackling the fire on the moorland.

Please continue to avoid the area, including around Castleshaw upper reservoir.

Flames higher than 1.5 metres

West Yorkshire Fire service said in an update at 5pm:

We currently have fourteen crews and support units on the moorland tackling the fire using several resources including blowers, beaters and our moorland vehicles.

The fire is continuing to burn, with some areas of a flame height of over 1.5m. The public are being reminded to please avoid the area.

Second moor fire spreads into Greater Manchester

The fire near Dovestone and Greenfield earlier today has now been extinguished.

However a seperate moor fire which started over the border in West Yorkshire has now spread into Greater Manchester.

It began near March Haigh reservoir in Marsden with the first reports being made around 1:30pm.

However is now affecting the area around Castleshaw Reservoir, near Delph.

Exact location of fire unclear

Its not clear exactly where the fire broke out, but Andrew says it appears to be some distance over the moors from Holmfirth Road

Firefighters accessing fire site using buggy

Our reporter at the scene, Andrew Bardsley, says that fire crews were transported to the seat of the fire from Holmfirth Road in a specialist buggy - which was transported on the back of this truck - due to the terrain.

Fire crews at scene

Our photographer has just sent us these images of fire engines who responded to the blaze near Dovestone.

They are parked up on the A635 Holmfirth Road, close to the border with Kirkless, which is where the fire is said to have broken out

Crews tackling separate moor fire in West Yorkshire which is 'progressing' towards Greater Manchester

In a seperate, unrelated, incident, crews just over the border in West Yorkshire are tackling a moorland fire near Marsden.

West Yorkshire Fire Service said they were called at 1:30pm to the area around March Haigh Reservoir.

"The fire front is believed to be around 1.5km" they said. "Crews are using the argocat, beaters and blowers to tackle it. The public are being asked to avoid the area.

At 4pm, they said:

The fire is continuing to burn and is progressing in the direction of Greater Manchester in the Denholme area. It is currently 10x5km long.

We currently have twelve crews and support units in attendance.

The public are being asked to avoid all areas around the fire, including The Pennine Way and Denshaw Moor. Further updates will follow.

Not a controlled burn

Today's incident wasn't a controlled burn that got out of control, like Tuesday's the Manchester Evening News understands.

The cause is currently unclear, a GMFRS spokesman said.

Second moor fire in a week

It is the second moor fire in the region in a matter of days.

On Tuesday, a blaze broke out on the moors above Carrbrook in Stalybridge, Tameside.

The M.E.N reported that it originally 'started as a controlled burn' by landowners but then grew 'out of control.'

The fire service are yet to give any indication regarding the cause of today's fire.

Moorland fire broke out around 12:30pm

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have just issued a statement on the incident.

They said:

At just before 12.30pm on Friday (March 21) three fire engines from Mossley, Stalybridge and Oldham fire stations plus specialist wildfire units attended a fire on moorland above Greenfield.

Firefighters worked alongside partners to quickly bring the fire under control and extinguish it. Crews were in attendance for more than three hours.”

Air around Dovestone 'filled with smoke'

A witness who is near the reservoir there is a large amount of smoke visibile

Crews still tackling the blaze

The M.E.N underdstands firefighters are still tackling the fire but that it large parts of it have been extinguished.

We are awaiting a full statement from the fire service regarding the incident

Smoke seen from M62

One user of X, formerly Twitter, said: "I saw the smoke from the M62. Looks big."