Woman charged with aggravated arson over moorland fire in Greater Manchester

Shania Care-Slede, 20, arrested over incident at Dovestone reservoir on Saturday in which fireworks were launched

A woman has been charged with aggravated arson in connection with a major moorland wildfire, as large parts of Greater Manchester were covered in smoke.

Shania Care-Slede, 20, from Hyde, was arrested on Monday by Greater Manchester police in Oldham. She has been charged with two offences: aggravated arson, while being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and dangerous driving.

Firefighters have declared a major incident near Dovestone reservoir, Greenfield, where fireworks were launched before a large moorland fire broke out on Saturday evening.

Care-Slede appeared at Manchester magistrates court on Tuesday morning. District judge Simon Blakebrough remanded her in custody until her plea hearing on 18 August at Manchester Minshull Street crown court.

It is not yet clear whether fireworks caused the blaze, although police said they had received a report of pyrotechnics.

Large parts of Greater Manchester have been blanketed by strong-smelling fog and thin layers of ash from three separate wildfires, including a blaze at Conwy Mountain more than 60 miles away in north Wales.

Scientists have warned that the UK is in the middle of a “firewave” as the prolonged heatwaves caused by the climate emergency provide the ideal condition for wildfires.

Local people said parts of Manchester city centre were covered in an orange haze and the smell of burning on Monday night. Greater Manchester fire and rescue service has advised people in smoke-affected areas to “stay indoors where possible and keep windows and doors closed to reduce smoke entering your home”.

Fire services are tackling three large wildfires near Greater Manchester and in north Wales. A major incident was also declared on Sunday at Tintwistle Moor in Derbyshire, where a fire, which first broke out on 24 June, has affected more than 240 hectares (600 acres) of woodland and moorland.

Greater Manchester has also been affected by smoke from the wildfire near Conwy Mountain, where 36 homes were evacuated. On Monday, North Wales fire and rescue service said it had stood down the major incident and that firefighters remained in attendance to monitor conditions.

Nineteen wildfires are now blazing across England and Wales, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council. “When vegetation is this dry, it only takes one spark to start a fire,” said the NFCC chair, Phil Garrigan.

“We are strongly urging everyone to take extra care while enjoying the outdoors. Avoid using disposable barbecues in parks, moorland, countryside areas and other open spaces, never discard cigarettes on the ground, and make sure any litter is taken home.”