Izzy Forbes had just got home when she was confronted by an enormous fire in the city centreIzzy and Georgie were wondering if they would need to evacuateIzzy and Georgie were wondering if they would need to evacuate(Image: Izzy Forbes)

A woman has described the terrifying moment she started packing bags as fire consumed a building not far from her 14th floor flat.

Izzy Forbes had been coming home from work when she saw smoke rising into the sky in Manchester city centre.

But as she turned the corner, Izzy described being hit by an intense heat as she saw a massive fire was consuming a building just minutes from her home.

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Trainee journalist Izzy, 21, said: “I was walking home from work and there a lot of commotion. I turned the corner at HOME cinema and was instantly hit by a wave of heat. There was orange flames, it was really scary.

“I thought it was best to get away from this as quickly as possible.

“I walked to my flat about two minutes away, I thought we’re going to be evacuated, I need to pack my things.”

Firefighters at the sceneFirefighters at the scene(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that two buildings have been evacuated.

A spokesperson for GMFRS said in a new statement tonight: “Crews are working hard to tackle the fire at the Hotspur Press building.

“20 fire engines from stations across Greater Manchester are at the scene, where three floors of the building are alight.

“Multiple jets and the air unit are in use to prevent the spread of the fire. All floors of the two apartment blocks at 1 Cambridge Street have been evacuated.”

Izzy’s flatmate Georgie Docker arrived home soon afterwards and the pair decided to go into their flat.

Georgia 23, also a trainee journalist, said: “We’re a couple of buildings away. We’re 14 floors up and if we had to evacuate we would have to go down all those stairs.”

“It was very frightening.”

Black smoke billows into the skyBlack smoke billows into the sky(Image: Izzy Forbes)

Izzy added: “There was clouds of black smoke everywhere.

“I was trying to pack a bag in case our building was evacuated. I was struggling to breathe because it was coming through the window.

“I was terrified, it was really scary. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

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M.E.N. reporter Greta Simpson was at the scene, describing the sight she said: “My voice is hoarse. There is ash falling from the sky.”