Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were still tackling a Manchester fire near Dovestone Reservoir in Saddleworth on July 12. A fire service spokesperson said crews were working to stop the moorland blaze spreading further.
Firefighters were alerted shortly before 8.45pm, and the response brought crews from across Greater Manchester together with specialist wildfire resources. Residents and visitors were told to keep windows and doors closed because smoke was drifting from the scene, and to avoid the area where possible so emergency services could work safely.
The fire happened near the same site where Karl Holland, 18, died after entering the water. Greater Manchester Police later reminded people about open water after his death, and Detective Inspector Steven Horton said he wanted to remind the public of the dangers of open water.
Dovestone Reservoir in Saddleworth
The fire service said firefighters were tackling a moorland fire near Dovestones Reservoir, while crews worked to extinguish it and keep it from spreading further. The cause of the fire remains unknown even as responders stayed on scene.
For people near the reservoir, the practical advice was direct: stay away from the area if possible, and keep doors and windows shut while smoke continued to drift. The response also shows how quickly a rural fire can draw in wider resources when wind and terrain make containment harder than a single crew can manage.
Steven Horton said: "I would like to take this opportunity to remind the public of the dangers of open water." He added: "We strongly encourage people to stay safe and refrain from entering large bodies of water including reservoirs, rivers, canals, or ponds."
That warning now sits beside the fire response at Dovestone Reservoir in Saddleworth. The unanswered question is what caused the blaze, and until that is established, the immediate priority remains keeping people out of the area and away from open water.
