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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Chris Slater

Crews remain at scene of huge blaze with investigation set to get underway

Firefighters remain at the scene of a huge blaze in Trafford which broke out last night with an investigation into the cause set to get underway.

The fire, which engulfed two commercial units, broke out on Bradley Lane on the border of Stretford and Sale at around 9pm last night (Wednesday).

The portable cabins contained a number of vehicles and machinery and huge plumes of smoke were sent up over the area which could be seen several miles away with nearby residents being told to keep their doors and windows shut.

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Police also attended and the A56 Chester Road was blocked for a time. One person was found 'in the vicinity of the fire' when crews arrived and was escorted away to safety. The fire service have now confirmed no one was injured.

At its height, six fire engines and more than 25 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze with the flames being largely extinguished around two and a half hours later.

However, crews have spent the night at the scene ensuring it doesn't re-ignite. Two fire engines remain on the scene this morning dampening down. Both affected units have been 'severely damaged', say fire chiefs.

Pictures from the scene last night show them having been gutted by the flames.

It was prevented from spreading to other neighbouring units due to the hard work of the crews. The cause is not yet known. However a senior fire officer last night told the Manchester Evening News there were 'no suspicious indicators whatsoever.'

Crews are damping down (Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)

A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) spokesperson said in a statement issued this morning (Thursday): “At 9pm on Wednesday 19 April, firefighters were called out to a large fire involving two commercial units containing a number of vehicles and machinery on Bradley Lane, Stretford.

“Six fire engines, a hose laying lorry and a hydraulic platform from across Greater Manchester attended the incident. Firefighters extinguished the fire using a Scorpion appliance and two hose reels.

The blaze raged for several hours on Wednesday night (GMFRS)

"The buildings suffered severe damage, but crews were able to prevent the fire from spreading to other nearby units. Two fire engines remain at the scene dampening hotspots. An investigation into the cause of the fire will be conducted later today.”

Last night, group manager at GMFRS and the incident commander, Dave Minto, told the M.E.N. "When crews arrived there was a person in the vicinity of the fire, so we made that a 'persons reported' incident, in that people are potentially involved.

Fire chiefs say there are 'no suspicious indicators' (Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)

"The gentleman was escorted away to safety by the fire crews and we have had six fire engines and support vehicles fighting the fire. We have got two industrial, commercial units which are quite severely damaged by fire.

"Approximately 50 metres by 20 metres with surrounding units which are luckily not involved thanks to the hard work of the crews."

Asked about the potential cause of the fire he said: "At the moment there's nothing to suggest that. As is standard practice, with our partners we will be investigating the cause of the fire and trying to establish what has happened. But there are no suspicious indicators whatsoever."

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