A second man has been arrested on suspicion of arson, as a moorland fire in Lancashire burns into its second week.

Police arrested the 20-year-old man from Wigan on Friday morning on suspicion of causing a fire with intent to endanger life. It comes a week after a 22-year-old man from Bolton was arrested in connection with the fire. He was later released pending further inquiries.

Firefighters are continuing to tackle the blaze that started more than a week ago on Winter Hill, north-west of Bolton. On Thursday the fire service set up a 3 sq mile exclusion zone around the moorland blaze, banning walkers from the area.

The fire service, which released an image of the area stretching from Rivington village to Horrocks Moor, said: “[The map] shows the areas we need people to stay clear of; not only for public safety but to help us maintain the progress we’ve made so we can give you back full access ASAP.”

Last week about 100 soldiers and an RAF Chinook helicopter were drafted in to help with another, larger moorland fire, which continues to burn 30 miles away near Saddleworth Moor. The fire is now said to be under control and soldiers assisting the fire service were stood down on Friday.

Police confirmed on Wednesday that they were also treating the fire near Saddleworth Moor as arson, reporting that witnesses had seen people lighting a bonfire on land near to Buckton Vale, north of Stalybridge, at around 7.30pm on Sunday 24 June. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire near Buckton Vale, but it reignited the following Tuesday because of the high temperatures.

Beverley Hughes, the deputy mayor of Greater Manchester, said on Friday that fire crews were making good progress and that the operation would be scaled down. Speaking following a visit to Winter Hill, the region’s mayor, Andy Burnham, said some crews would also be able to leave that area.

“I wanted to come here again today to say a huge thank you to all the crews fighting this fire including crews from Greater Manchester, Lancashire and many other fire and rescue services. They are working incredibly hard and the public are so grateful for their efforts,” said Burnham.

Maj Phil Morgan, from the Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: “It’s been a real privilege to be involved in this firefighting effort. Not only has the task been completed but we have strengthened the bonds that already exist between the army and our civilian partners.”