‘The priorities for us were to contain that scene and make sure people in the surrounding area were kept safe’
21:44, 24 Apr 2026
Video shows scale of fire as it broke out in Trafford Park
As enormous plumes of black smoke billowed over Trafford Park, more than a hundred 999 calls were made to North West Fire Control alerting them to what was unfolding.
The first fire crews were on scene in minutes after the initial call at 1:25pm, and began taking the crucial first steps in what would be a complex and hazardous firefighting operation.
“It was clear it was quite significant” Area Manager Karl Gibbons, from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), told the Manchester Evening News.
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“There was quite a big smoke plume. The first considerations were ‘what have we got? What’s involved? Is it the full building? Has it spread to others?’ They are the things you are thinking about on approaching.”
Urgent messages went out to local businesses to keep their doors and windows closed. It was around half an hour after the first call that Mr Gibbons was assigned as the incident commander, and made his way to the scene.
Firefighters tackling the blaze at Broadoak Business Park in Trafford Park on Friday afternoon(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
“When I got here, the crews had set up fantastically” he said. “They had water in right places, they had managed the evacuation of the local area really well.”
The fire broke out inside the Broadoak Business Park, off Ashburton Road West in a bustling corner of Trafford Park, one of Europe’s biggest industrial estates.
It is currently believed the fire began outside, before spreading to a single storey industrial building, measuring around 30 by 30 metres, and causing everything inside it to go up in flames.
Thick black smoke was sent billowing into the air(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Mr Gibbons said that without being able to gain access they couldn’t say exactly what was in there but it was a factory that ‘contains and works with rubber and other sorts of materials’ which likely explains the thick black smoke that filled the air for several hours and which could be seen for miles in every direction, including as far away as Liverpool.
It was confirmed by the factory to the fire service that no one was inside the building. However Mr Gibbons said the extent of the fire ‘put at risk’ the building next door. There were reports of ‘chemicals and oil drums’ being nearby.
Crews were ‘offensive’ in their tackling of the blaze, their boss said(Image: Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS))
Several hundred people were evacuated from there and other neighbouring businesses. Several hundred more were safely escorted away several hours later as crews continued to battle the blaze.
At its height, there were 11 fire engines containing more than 50 firefighters at the scene, as well as aerial platform, a turntable ladder, and a ‘scorpion’ appliance, which is also used to douse water or foam from above.
“The priorities for us were to contain that scene and make sure people in the surrounding area were kept safe” Mr Gibbons said. “The big risk was that it spread to the neighbouring building which is an enormous warehouse containing lots of stock. Crews did a fantastic job trying to contain the fire within the building involved but also prevent the spread..
Water was doused in from above after the roof ‘collapsed in'(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
“We have done a fantastic job stopping it spreading any further and reducing the risk to the wider community as well.”
Firefighters were ‘offensive all the way through’ meaning firefighters were deployed in the ‘risk’ areas, including initially inside the building itself, to tackle it.
They later had to withdraw due to ‘stability issues’ with the roof eventually ‘collapsing in.’ However that then provided the opportunity to get more water in from above, Mr Gibbons said.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Speaking at around 6pm on Friday, he said it was not fully out but was had been brought ‘well under control.’
A gas main ruptured at the site had ‘hampered progress in extinguishing it completely’ he said. Experts from the gas company Cadent had been drafted in to help to find and isolate it” he added.
Examinations of the buildings structural integrity will take place moving forward as will a full investigation into the cause.
Mr Gibbons expressed thanks to the police, ambulance service and other agencies who assisted in the operation.
The smoke was visible from miles away(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
GMFRS said in a statement: “Firefighters are likely to remain on the scene into the evening and overnight to tackle the fire, make the area safe and ensure there is no risk to neighbouring properties, before an investigation commences into the cause.
“Nearby properties are advised to keep their windows and doors shut while the incident remains ongoing. Crews would like to thank residents and neighbours for their cooperation and patience.”