Residents evacuated as huge blaze breaks out in factory
Around 100 homes were evacuated after a gas explosion caused a blaze at a disused factory on Bury Road in Radcliffe. Dozens of families were forced to spend the night at a local community centre.
Around 60 firefighters and 12 fire engines were called to the scene.
There were no casualties reported in the blast but windows were shattered in surrounding buildings due to the intense heat at the scene.
Zoe Joynson, who was evacuated from her home said: “It was like fireworks were going off. It’s been a bit scary, but we’re all fine. My 13-year-old daughter Katie was babysitting in one of the flats nearby, but she managed to carry the children downstairs in her arms. Thankfully they were all okay.”
Another witness, Jennifer Armour, said: “All we could see was the smoke and lights flashing.”
Station Manager Paul Duggan said: “We were faced with a very busy scene with a rapidly developing fire. It was difficult as there was limited access to the site and there were a large number of houses that were very close. The heat was such that it cracked windows in the flats opposite. All the residents really worked with us to make sure it was resolved safely.”
A joint is now being carried out by Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
Grandfather dies in fire started by chip pan
A man has died at a fire in his home in Coomassie, Radcliffe after a fire broke out on 22nd May.
Wayne Thompson, aged 43, was found unconscious in an upstairs room and was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Thompsons partner and their young grand-daughter managed to escape from the fire.
The fire is thought to have started in a chip pan that had been left unattended in the kitchen. There were no smoke alarms in the house at the time of the fire.
A family friend said: “Wayne was a good laugh and he loved spending time with his family. There were always children and grandchildren at the house. Everyone is distraught.”
A spokesperson for the company that Mr Thompson worked for said: “Wayne was a very highly valued and popular member of the team. Many of his colleagues are shocked and saddened by the news and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time.”
Neighbour Karl Horsfield said: “I saw the house on fire and smoke was coming through my bedroom window. The fire took hold very quickly. There was a woman in the street screaming and shouting ‘get out of the house’. She was very distressed. The fire brigade were here really quickly and took off the door to get inside. It took quite a while to bring the fire under control.”
14 firefighters too around 3 hours to extinguish the blaze.
Several people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and one firefighter suffered burns to his arms due to the intensity of the flames.