Firefighters have said it could take days to extinguish a large fire on moorland in Greater Manchester, which broke out on Saturday.

Officers said the blaze at Dove Stone Reservoir in Greenfield, Saddleworth, had now merged with one several miles away at Tintwistle Moor near Glossop.

Clive Stanbrook, from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS), said it was spreading because of the tinder-dry conditions and the “ever changing winds”.

He said crews were “doing all we possibly can to try and stop this fire from spreading any further”, including dropping water from helicopters and carrying out reconnaissance with drones and aircraft. A woman, 20, has appeared in court charged with arson.

The blaze on Tintwistle Moor in Glossop started on 24 June and was declared a major incident on Sunday, with DFRS saying firefighters were facing “challenging conditions”.

Stanbrook said: “We’ve had a couple of helicopters dropping water as well, but also doing reconnaissance.

“Mountain Rescue have been absolutely fantastic and provided their drone. We’ve also had a coastguard plane as well to do reconnaissance of the actual area.

“That’s just a taste of the scale that we’re dealing with at the moment.”

Ben Levy, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) area manager said: “I envisage our firefighters are going to be on these moors for a number of days, I am sure of it – there is no significant rainfall forecast, the temperatures are due to remain high.”

About 70 firefighters, 11 fire engines and four wildfire units were at the scene on Tuesday.

Levy added: “Where our firefighters are is very steep and unsteady under foot.

“They are wearing heavy gear and any water they want to use is not up there. Water is not our only way of putting these fires out, we’ve got specialist teams who are doing their best to get this under control.”

Crews tackling the fire have been inundated with drinks, food and treats collected by Micklehurst Cricket Club in Mossley, where two of its members are firefighters.

The fire at Dove Stone Reservoir, which has been declared a major incident, sent large plumes of smoke for miles across the wider region.

A woman appeared in court on Tuesday accused of arson.

Shania Care-Slede, 20, of Market Street, Hyde was charged with aggravated arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and dangerous driving.

She was remanded in custody at Manchester Magistrates’ Court to appear at Manchester Crown Court on 18 August.

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