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| Bolton fire: Huge blaze breaks out at student flats | Bolton fire: Huge blaze breaks out at student flats |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A huge fire has broken out at a university student accommodation block. | A huge fire has broken out at a university student accommodation block. |
| Crews from more than 40 fire engines are tackling the blaze on the fifth and sixth floors of The Cube in Bradshawgate in Bolton. | |
| Crowds of students were evacuated from the six-storey building after the fire started at about 20:30 GMT on Friday. | Crowds of students were evacuated from the six-storey building after the fire started at about 20:30 GMT on Friday. |
| One witness said the fire was "climbing up" the six-storey building and "bubbling from the outside". It is not known if there are any injuries. | One witness said the fire was "climbing up" the six-storey building and "bubbling from the outside". It is not known if there are any injuries. |
| Great Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) asked residents of The Cube to register at Orlando Village Student Accommodation and contact family members to let them know they are safe. | |
| Area manager Jim Hutton praised "hardworking firefighters who have worked exceptionally hard during difficult conditions and prevented the fire from spreading to an adjacent building". | Area manager Jim Hutton praised "hardworking firefighters who have worked exceptionally hard during difficult conditions and prevented the fire from spreading to an adjacent building". |
| "While the building does remain on fire, we are doing all we can to stay on top of this situation and soon extinguish the flames," he said. | "While the building does remain on fire, we are doing all we can to stay on top of this situation and soon extinguish the flames," he said. |
| University of Bolton student Shannon Parker, who lives in the building, said she was in her room when the fire started. | University of Bolton student Shannon Parker, who lives in the building, said she was in her room when the fire started. |
| "I heard the fire alarm going off but it kept on going off so I just thought it was a drill at first until one of my flatmates shouted down the corridor that it was a real fire," the 22-year-old said. | "I heard the fire alarm going off but it kept on going off so I just thought it was a drill at first until one of my flatmates shouted down the corridor that it was a real fire," the 22-year-old said. |
| "So I ran out the flat as quickly as I could and I saw that it was one of the flats below mine and we went out by the fire exit." | "So I ran out the flat as quickly as I could and I saw that it was one of the flats below mine and we went out by the fire exit." |
| She said she was being relocated to either a nearby hotel or another student accommodation building. | She said she was being relocated to either a nearby hotel or another student accommodation building. |
| Witness Ace Love, 35, said the fire "kept getting more intense, climbing up and to the right because the wind was blowing so hard". | Witness Ace Love, 35, said the fire "kept getting more intense, climbing up and to the right because the wind was blowing so hard". |
| "We could see it bubbling from the outside and then being engulfed from the outside," he added. | "We could see it bubbling from the outside and then being engulfed from the outside," he added. |
| "A lot of students got out very fast, someone was very distressed, the rest were on phones calling for help. | "A lot of students got out very fast, someone was very distressed, the rest were on phones calling for help. |
| "The fire got worse and worse, to the point where you could see through the beams, it was just bare frame." | "The fire got worse and worse, to the point where you could see through the beams, it was just bare frame." |
| Videos posted on social media show debris falling from the building and firefighters tackling flames coming out of the windows on the top floors. | Videos posted on social media show debris falling from the building and firefighters tackling flames coming out of the windows on the top floors. |
| One student tweeted to say she had to leave her belongings and added: "But the main thing is I'm out and I'm safe." | One student tweeted to say she had to leave her belongings and added: "But the main thing is I'm out and I'm safe." |
| In a tweet, GMFRS said crews were using aerial appliances to tackle the blaze. | |
| A spokesperson said there was still a large amount of smoke in the local area. | |
| "Local residents are being asked to keep their windows and doors shut and avoid the area where possible," they added. | |
| Greater Manchester Police said a number of road closures were in place. | Greater Manchester Police said a number of road closures were in place. |