An enormous lorry fire raged at an industrial estate in Manchester this morning, with black smoke, roaring flames and loud bangs, forcing families to evacuate.
The blaze that broke out just after 8am at the Roundthorn Industrial Estate in the Wythenshawe area of the city ‘involved heavy good vehicles’, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said.
Several homes nearby were forced to evacuate ‘due to the amount of smoke’, the fire brigade added, as ten fire engines from across Greater Manchester descended to fight the flames. Wythenshawe Hospital is a mere half a mile away from the site.
One X user said the explosions ‘popping off’ as the blaze raged could be heard from two or three miles away in the town of Altrincham. There was ‘a smell in the air’, they added.
Shocking clips show the thick clouds of smoke ascending high into the sky – still visible even in footage filmed from Manchester city centre, more than ten miles away – with powerful orange flames blasting upwards from the ground.
A huge emergency response attended, including Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service – but there were no casualties, they confirmed. GMFRS told people living nearby to close windows and doors during the fire.
As of around 12.40pm, the fire has ‘largely’ been extinguished, GMFRS said, ‘with just one area still requiring the attention of firefighters’. Evacuated families have now been returned to their homes and road closures have been lifted.
Local woman Lisa Baines said it startled her so much she thought Britain was being bombed by Russia: ‘Nothing like being woken up on a Sunday morning by loads of explosions. Thought Putin had come for us.’
An enormous lorry fire raged at an industrial estate in Manchester this morning (pictured), with black smoke, roaring flames and loud bangs, forcing families to evacuate
The blaze (pictured) that broke out just after 8am at the Roundthorn Industrial Estate in the Wythenshawe area of the city ‘involved heavy good vehicles’, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said
Several homes nearby were forced to evacuate ‘due to the amount of smoke’, the fire brigade added
One X user felt exactly the same: ‘Woke up this morning and I thought we were at war.’
Another was similarly afraid Manchester Airport, around three miles away, was being targeted by gunfire: ‘Thought at first it was gunshots at the airport then it went on and on. Hope nobody hurt.’
Floats Road – the major route near the close on fire – was shut in both directions at one stage, with further closures from nearby Ledson Road to Claverton Road and also on part of Southmoor Road. People were advised to avoid the area during the fire.
All are now open again, as of around 12.40pm.
At 10.45am, the fire was ‘mostly’ extinguished, with the emergency response scaled back as four fire engines remained at the scene – but locals were still encouraged to keep windows and doors shut.
A GMFRS spokesperson said at around 9.50am: ‘Firefighters are currently tackling a fire involving heavy goods vehicles on Ennis Close, Manchester.
‘Nearby residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed and to avoid the area.’
They added: ‘Shortly after 8.15am on Sunday, February 23, ten fire appliances from across Greater Manchester were called to attend a fire involving heavy goods vehicles on Ennis Close, Manchester.
Shocking footage showed powerful orange flames blasting upwards from the ground
A member of the public looks on as a large cloud of black smoke rises above the scene of the fire
Firefighters use an aerial platform to tame the blaze
A huge emergency response attended, including Greater Manchester Police (pictured) and North West Ambulance Service
As of around 12.40pm, the fire has ‘largely’ been extinguished, GMFRS said, ‘with just one area still requiring the attention of firefighters’
There were no casualties, the police and ambulance service confirmed
Shocking clips show the thick clouds of smoke ascending high into the sky – still visible even in footage filmed from Manchester city centre, more than ten miles away (pictured)
One X user at first thought the loud bangs that came with the fire were marking the onset of war on Britain: ‘Woke up this morning and I thought we were at war.’
Another was similarly afraid Manchester Airport, around three miles away, was being targeted by gunfire: ‘Thought at first it was gunshots at the airport then it went on and on. Hope nobody hurt’
‘Crews arrived quickly and are working hard to extinguish the fire. Several nearby properties have been evacuated.
‘Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service are also in attendance.’
At 10.45am, they added: ‘Firefighters have now extinguished the majority of the fire using hose reels, jets and breathing apparatus.
‘The incident is now being scaled back. Four fire engines remain at the scene.
‘Nearby residents are still advised to keep their windows and doors shut.’
At 12.40pm, they said: ‘Thanks to the hard work of crews, the fire is now largely extinguished with just one area still requiring the attention of firefighters.
‘Residents that were evacuated due to the amount of smoke have returned to their homes with the assistance of Greater Manchester Police.
‘The road closure that was in place has also been lifted.’
