A huge emergency response shut off the street as smoke seeped from between the doors of the large building
Firefighters at the fire in Middleton(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Firefighters worked to extinguish “lithium ion batteries” at a storage unit fire in Middleton.
Eight fire engines were dispatched to Old Hall Street in Middleton along with special appliances after a storage unit caught fire.
The entire street swarmed with fire fighter who had donned breathing apparatus as acrid yellow-coloured smoke poured from doors into the large corrugated iron building.
Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE
A large cordon was put in place around the building, which was expanded when smoke began to seep from cracks around doors on a side where a small crowd had gathered.
An officer on scene told the Manchester Evening News that firefighters were “undertaking fire fighting internally and externally. They’re trying to extinguish lithium ion batteries in a storage unit.”
They added: “There’s around 45 firefighters on scene currently.”
There was a large emergency response(Image: Manchester Evening News)
One onlooker with units in the facility had gone down and was “fuming”, saying: “I’ve lost three units here. I’m fuming. I had a whole shop in there.”
Another said: “We’re lost for words. You can’t breathe properly”.
Firefighters tapped into the mains water in the street, appearing to direct appliances into the building through the doors.
Firefighters using an appliance on the wall of the building(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
One tool being used by firefighters even appeared to be going through a hole in the building’s wall.
The smoke inside the building appeared to be so dense that it was even coming out of the cracks in the doors in significant quantities.
An eyewitness said: “When it happened we realised late, once all the fire brigade and the police officers arrived.
Firefighters donned breathing apparatus in the foul-smelling smoke(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
“Seeing all the smoke coming out of that building, it’s a big building. That catching fire it’s quite dangerous.”
Another said: “It’s shocking isn’t it really. It’s sad.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 4.50pm on Wednesday (June 18) eight fire engines and special appliances from across Greater Manchester were called to a fire involving a storage unit at a commercial property on Old Hall Street, Middleton.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reels to tackle the fire and remain in attendance to make the area safe. Road closures are in place and local residents are asked to keep their windows and doors closed due to a large amount of fire being produced.”