A woman is scheduled to make a court appearance facing arson charges as two significant wildfires continue to burn on the edges of Manchester.

Firefighters have been actively combating the fires at Dovestone Reservoir in Oldham and Tintwistle Moor near Glossop, with both incidents being classified as major emergencies.

The billowing smoke rising near the sites has raised concerns about the local air quality.

Following the Dovestone wildfire, a 20-year-old woman named Shania Care-Slede from Market Street, Hyde, was apprehended on suspicion of arson. She is accused of aggravated arson, endangering lives through recklessness, and dangerous driving. Currently in custody, she is set to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on July 14.

The charges are linked to the ongoing investigation into the Dovestones Reservoir fire, with law enforcement actively pursuing various leads to identify any other potential individuals involved.

The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service initially responded to the Dovestone fire on Saturday night, escalating to a major incident by Monday afternoon as crews fought to contain the blaze amidst hot weather conditions.

Both the Dovestone and Tintwistle fires have resulted in widespread smoke across Greater Manchester, with firefighting efforts ongoing.

As of this afternoon, around 70 firefighters, 11 fire engines, and four wildfire units have been deployed to combat the flames at the scenes.

Detective Inspector Andrew Day emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigation, urging the public to provide any information or footage that could assist in identifying additional suspects.

The Tintwistle wildfire, which began nearly three weeks ago, has already consumed an area equivalent to 350 football pitches, with firefighting operations expected to continue for an extended period.

Shania Care-Slede is not connected to the Tintwistle fire, which erupted on June 24. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service declared it a major incident, with full operations set to resume today.