“I didn’t smell anything. The dog didn’t even bark”
A cordon remains on Cranwell Drive
A large police scene is in place following a tragic house fire in Burnage this afternoon (April 23). Emergency services were called to reports of the blaze at Cranwell Drive around 4.40pm.
Police have now confirmed the body of a man in his 70s was found. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A long section of Cranwell Drive was taped off by police with officers standing guard this evening. More officers could be seen stationed in the garden of a property, with plain clothes detectives also at the scene.
Firefighters from three stations also attended.
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Earlier this evening, specialist forensic crime scene investigation officers were spotted in attendance. One woman who lives on the street told the Manchester Evening News: “I was going to go to Tesco, and I couldn’t get out.
“It was all blocked off with emergency services. There were three fire engines, police cars, and quite a few other vehicles.
“I didn’t hear the fire when it was happening. I didn’t smell anything. The dog didn’t even bark.
“And the by the time I came out, about half five, I think it was out. There was a lady stood on the street who was crying and a police officer asked if we could give her some space. She was very distressed. “
Plain clothes detectives were on the scene
Another neighbour said: “We heard there had been an accident. I heard the fire service arriving and saw all the police cars.”
One resident told the M.E.N.: “There was three fire engines, a lot of police, a lot of paramedics. The circumstances of what happened, I’ve no idea. The police aren’t telling us anything.”
Reacting the death of their neighbour, one woman added: “It’s so sad. He was a nice man.”
A spokesperson for GMP said: “Officers responded to reports of a fire at a property on Cranwell Drive, Burnage at around 4:45pm today.
“Emergency services attended and sadly a man aged in his 70s was pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this incident.”
Residents say access to the street was restricted
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Shortly after 4.40pm on Thursday 23 April, three fire engines from Withington, Whitehill and Stockport fire stations were called to attend a house fire on Cranwell Drive, Manchester.
“Crews arrived quickly and used breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets and a gas detector to extinguish the fire.
“Firefighters were in attendance for approximately two and a half hours.”