“What was most important were the tall buildings full of occupants – the pressure was getting them out”GMFRS Area Manager Ben Levy(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Dogs and drones were at the scene of the devastating Hotspur Press fire in Manchester city centre today (June 24), as the fire service begin their investigations into the blaze.

More than 20 fire engines attended the scene yesterday afternoon (June 23) with more than 100 firefighters tackling the inferno that ripped through one of Manchester’s oldest buildings – and led to two neighbouring apartment being evacuated.

Around 180 people were evacuated from the flats at 1 Cambridge Street and Oxford Road station was closed to passengers. The apartment block closest to the site of the blaze remains empty today, with around 27 people supported by the council staying in city centre hotels.

Images from the scene on June 24(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)

Ben Levy, Head of Operations and Area Manager at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, was at the scene to speak to the media and give an update on the investigation, which began today.

“At the moment, this is a routine fire investigation,” Mr Levy told reporters. “We will put a lot of resources into this and feed back to the police and the local authority. It is a very significant fire and people will have questions.”

“The building currently looks very unstable. I would not readily send my firefighters into that building to investigate as there is no threat to life and we are not looking for any persons.

“We can fly drones into the structure and we’ve had specialist trained dogs on the site that can detect fire accelerants, though at the moment we have nothing to suggest that these were present.

“In a building like this, which is so old and dry, with a wooden structure, on a dry afternoon with a bit of wind, it will sadly burn very easily.

“It’s so sad for the city centre – another iconic, historic building,” Mr Levy continued. “Some have been turned into very nice apartments and some are standing empty.

“This building has stood here in a sorry state of repairs for many years. But it’s a sad day for Manchester where buildings like this are potentially lost.”

Images from the scene(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)

Mr Levy added that ‘the good thing’ was that all occupants of the two neighbouring buildings were now safe. GMFRS confirmed in an earlier statement that there were ‘no reports of any occupants suffering ill health’ following the incident.

“Any old building like this is likely to have asbestos in it,” he continued. “People were concerned about the smoke yesterday and rightly so – breathing in any smoke can be toxic.

“We have had special support teams in overnight to assess the air quality and found there is no concern for the wider public. Even our officers are no longer wearing masks – the risk beyond the site is very minimal.”

As to the building’s future, Mr Levy stressed that the investigation was in its early stages but said that building surveyors had already visited the scene this morning.

“They are looking at what can be salvaged from the building and what the next steps will be. The owners will work with them to look at the future of the building.”

“What was most important and most concerning were the tall buildings full of occupants, close by,” he said. “The pressure was making sure that everybody was out of the building.”

“Everybody in Greater Manchester yesterday came together – the response was outstanding. The police, ambulances, the fire fighters climbing those stairs and breaking down doors – I cannot thank you enough.”