A discarded cigarette sent an apartment balcony up in flames causing the glass to smash and fall onto another balcony below in Salford.
Crews were called to the scene at a block of flats on Blackfriars Road in Salford on Friday night (June 9) after a cigarette, that was left in a plant pot, set fire to the wooden balcony.
The safety glass shattered in the blaze, with burning debris also falling down onto another balcony, causing a second fire within minutes.
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The fire service were also called out to another incident on Saturday morning (June 10) when a three-storey townhouse on River Street, Manchester, caught fire after another cigarette had been discarded on a balcony. One of the fires was at a building with flammable cladding.
These incidents also come after another blaze at an apartment in Wythenshawe on June 1, which saw a fire started by a tealight on a balcony spread into the property, causing significant damage.
The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have now issued a warning, urging people living in high-rise buildings to ensure that cigarettes have been properly put out and to not have barbeques on balconies.
GMFRS’ Head of Protection, Jenni Seex, said: "The warm weather is welcome, but what we have seen in recent years is this often leads to residents deciding to barbecue on balconies. We want residents to be able to enjoy their balconies but to also ensure they don’t put themselves or anyone else in danger.
“Barbecues and discarded cigarettes are the most common causes of fires on balconies, which is why GMFRS will be taking a tougher approach to residents who put their property and neighbours at risk by having barbeques on their balconies this summer.
“Never barbecue on your balcony as this poses a real risk of fire, due to the close proximity of the buildings. Anyone who does so is endangering themselves and their neighbours.
“If you smoke make sure that cigarettes are properly stubbed out in an ashtray – don’t drop them into plant pots or drop them off balconies as this can cause a fire.”
The Manchester Cladiators, a housing action group of concerned high rise residents, added: “It’s frightening how people can think having a barbecue on a balcony is a good idea. Of course, people can and will smoke on their balcony but flicking cigarettes from balconies is antisocial, stupid and dangerous.
“Every year, we see fire incidents soar as soon as the sun comes out. For those of us who live in flats it is vital that we are considerate to our neighbours and follow simple safety measures. Many residents across Greater Manchester are still waiting for major works to be done to their buildings to make them safe.
“This is a worrying time for those residents and the increased anxiety about other people causing fires only adds another layer of distress.”
The safety advice issued by GMFRS states that residents living in apartments should never use barbeques, chimineas or fire pits on balconies and always stub out cigarettes properly in an ashtray.
To help prevent more flat fires occurring this summer, GMFRS have announced they will be working with housing providers and landlords to inform residents about fire safety advice and support action being taken against residents who put others at risk if warnings are not followed.
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