A massive fire erupted at an industrial site in Trafford Park this afternoon, sending thick clouds of smoke drifting over Manchester.
Emergency services responded to a fire at an industrial facility on Clarence Avenue around 1:30 pm. According to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the blaze involved a section of a factory building situated near an area where chemicals and oil drums are stored.
Due to the incident, a section of Ashburton Road West near Broadoak Business Park was closed off as firefighters, police, and paramedics arrived on the scene. Authorities advised residents in the vicinity to keep their doors and windows shut and to stay away from the area while emergency crews managed the situation.
Witnesses near the site reported hearing two loud bangs before noticing smoke billowing around the area. The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service indicated that firefighters were met with a significant fire affecting part of a factory building, with potential storage of chemicals and oil drums nearby.
Efforts to extinguish the blaze at Trafford Park involved multiple fire engines, specialized crews, and various firefighting equipment. The fire service encouraged the public to avoid the area to facilitate the safe management of the incident.
Further reinforcements of police and fire personnel arrived at the scene, with reports indicating that the smoke from the fire was visible in locations as distant as Oldham.
At present, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is actively addressing the fire at the industrial unit in Trafford Park. Residents are advised to keep their doors and windows closed and to steer clear of the emergency operation in progress.
As a precaution, a portion of Ashburton Road West near Broadoak Business Park remains closed. The incident has led to thick smoke spreading over Trafford Park, following a major fire outbreak.
Images shared by the Manchester Evening News illustrate the smoke rising from the industrial vicinity near the Trafford Centre, though the exact location of the fire has not been pinpointed, it is believed to be close to Broadoak Business Park.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are underway.
