UPDATE: |Crews battle huge fire at Dovestone Reservoir for five hours News

The area affected was bigger than a football pitch

Firefighters spent five hours at the scene of a huge blaze in Saddleworth overnight.

Crews were called out to moorland above Dovestone Reservoir at around 7.30pm on Sunday evening (April 6).

The area affected by fire was larger than a football pitch, at 150 metres by 100 metres.

Two fire engines were sent out to the scene alongside four specialist units, with the area made safe in the early hours of Monday morning.

People were urged to avoid the area on Sunday night, while residents in surrounding areas of Saddleworth were told the keep their windows and doors closed as crews dealt with the fire.

Images showed flames soaring from the ground and smoke billowing into the air on Sunday night.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At around 7.30pm on Sunday, April 6, six fire appliances from across Greater Manchester, including two fire engines, three wildfire units and an air unit, were called to attend a moorland fire at Dovestone Reservoir, Oldham.

“Crews arrived quickly and used specialist equipment to extinguish the fire.

“At its height, the fire measured 150 metres by 100 metres.

“Firefighters made the area safe before departing after approximately five hours in attendance.”

The incident is the latest in a string of moor fires to hit the region in recent weeks, amid the ongoing spell of dry weather.

Crews battled blazes off Holmfirth Road, in nearby Greenfield, and near to Torside reservoir off Woodhead Pass last Tuesday evening (April 1).

And Blackstone Edge, near Littleborough, saw two fires in a matter of days in the previous week.

—

Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it.

That’s why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do – bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don’t miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News.

And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here.

You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street.

If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you’ll be the first to hear about it.

And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on [email protected] or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.