Huge fireball engulfs building as firefighters issue urgent 'stay away' warning

24 July 2023 , 20:01

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Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are tackling the blaze at a 'commercial unit' on Mount Son Road in Radcliffe (Image: Shannon Ettey)

A huge fireball has engulfed a building as firefighters continue the battle to keep the blaze under control.

Thick plumes of smoke billowed overhead from the building in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, with witnesses reporting them visible from miles away as crews desperately tried to bring the fire under control.

Emergency services cordoned off a number of pathways and roads in the local area and urged residents to stay away and close their windows as an extensive fire service response was called to the mammoth blaze understood to be at Building Chemical Research Ltd on Mount Sion Road.

The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were first called to the fire at around 6pm with six engines racing to the scene before the scale of the response grew as efforts to tackle the flames continued, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The cause has not yet been confirmed.

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Emergency services cordoned off a number of pathways and roads in the local area and urged residents to stay away and close their windows (Shannon Ettey)

Witnesses reported smoke visible from miles away as crews desperately tried to bring the fire under control (Shannon Ettey)

Pictures capture the scenes the inferno raged on, causing thick black clouds of smoke to form. Dramatic drone images also taken from height showed how the smoke filled the sky and billowed overhead.

People on social media have reported being able to see the smoke from the M60 and as far away as MediaCity in Salford and Clifton, with residents issued an important alert to avoid the area and a heavy police presence also assisting.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Just after 6pm this evening (Monday 24th July), several fire engines from across Greater Manchester along with the Command Support Unit from Atherton, Technical Response Unit from Ashton, the Hose Laying Lorry from Chadderton and Turntable Ladder from Manchester Central were called to reports of a building fire involving a commercial property on Mount Sion Road, Radcliffe.

“Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters are using three jets and a ground monitor to extinguish the fire. Firefighters have been in attendance for around two hours and are still at the scene .”

James Holt