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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Major fire disrupts city centre | Major fire disrupts city centre |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A fire which engulfed a five-storey commercial building in Manchester city centre has spread to a second premises. | |
| Although the initial fire on Dale Street has been brought under control, embers have blown to an apartment block opposite and started a second blaze. | |
| The first building was gutted by the fire and is in danger of collapse, according to firefighters. | |
| There are also unconfirmed reports that there may be a person trapped inside the property. | |
| Traffic is being disrupted on nearby roads and motorists are advised to avoid the surrounding area. | |
| Twelve fire engines and two specialist high-reach appliances are being used at the scene in the Northern Quarter. | |
| There are reports that people have been sleeping rough in the building in which the fire started Ged Higgins, Fire Service | There are reports that people have been sleeping rough in the building in which the fire started Ged Higgins, Fire Service |
| The alarm was raised at 0555 BST and the incident quickly escalated. | |
| A number of streets including Dale Street, Lever Street Hilton Street, Newton Street and part of Oldham Road are closed and traffic in the area is said to be "chaotic". | A number of streets including Dale Street, Lever Street Hilton Street, Newton Street and part of Oldham Road are closed and traffic in the area is said to be "chaotic". |
| A cordon has been put up around the area to protect the public and firefighters are battling to stop the blaze spreading even further. | A cordon has been put up around the area to protect the public and firefighters are battling to stop the blaze spreading even further. |
| Greater Manchester Fire Service spokesman Ged Higgins said crews had been unable to confirm reports of people inside. | Greater Manchester Fire Service spokesman Ged Higgins said crews had been unable to confirm reports of people inside. |
| "There are reports that people have been sleeping rough in the building in which the fire started - but we have not been able to confirm that at this stage," he said. | "There are reports that people have been sleeping rough in the building in which the fire started - but we have not been able to confirm that at this stage," he said. |
| 'Burning embers' | |
| Mr Higgins said the first blaze had been brought under control by firefighters and efforts were now being concentrated on the apartments opposite. | |
| "As I look at the building now all I can see are the shell of the buildings - all the internal floors and the roof have gone. | |
| "The shell of the building is surrounded completely by scaffolding and firefighters are concentrating their efforts on trying to protect an adjacent building. | |
| "However, because this first building was so large it appears that burning embers may have caused fire spread to a building on the other side of Dale Street and we are now dealing with two incidents." | |
| Have you been in the area this morning? Can you tell us anything about the fire? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Have you been in the area this morning? Can you tell us anything about the fire? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |