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Bolton fire: emergency crews battle blaze at student housing building Bolton fire: crews putting out 'last pockets of fire' at student housing building
(about 4 hours later)
Witnesses describe flames ‘crawling up cladding’ of six-storey building on BradshawgateWitnesses describe flames ‘crawling up cladding’ of six-storey building on Bradshawgate
Fire crews are tackling a large blaze “crawling up the cladding” of a student accommodation building in Bolton. Fire crews are putting out the “last pockets of fire” at a student accommodation building blaze in Bolton.
Images posted on social media showed firefighters tackling flames coming out of the windows on the top floors of a building known as the Cube on Bradshawgate. Images posted on social media showed firefighters tackling flames coming out of the windows on the top floors and “crawling up the cladding” of a building known as the Cube on Bradshawgate.
Greater Manchester fire and rescue service said 40 fire engines and appliances had been at the scene and that the building had been evacuated. By 3am resources had been scaled back to 10 engines and two aerial appliances, as crews continued to tackle pockets of fire. Greater Manchester fire and rescue service (GMFRS) said at the fire’s peak, 40 fire engines and appliances and around 200 firefighters had been at the scene. By 5.30am resources had been scaled back to six engines, as crews tackled “the last few pockets of fire”, GMFRS said.
Jim Hutton from Greater Manchester fire and rescue services said: “We have been fighting this fire for more than six hours now and we are making good progress, and that’s thanks to the quick and professional actions of our crews.”Jim Hutton from Greater Manchester fire and rescue services said: “We have been fighting this fire for more than six hours now and we are making good progress, and that’s thanks to the quick and professional actions of our crews.”
Two people were treated by paramedics at the scene, including one person who was rescued by crews using an aerial platform.
“Local residents are being asked to keep their windows and doors shut and avoid the area where possible,” a fire service statement read.“Local residents are being asked to keep their windows and doors shut and avoid the area where possible,” a fire service statement read.
One eyewitness described the fire as “crawl[ing] up the cladding like it was nothing”.One eyewitness described the fire as “crawl[ing] up the cladding like it was nothing”.
University of Bolton student Shannon Parker, 22, who lives in the building, said: “I was in my room whilst it was happening. 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.University of Bolton student Shannon Parker, 22, who lives in the building, said: “I was in my room whilst it was happening. 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.
“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.”
Another eyewitness, Ace Love, 35, said: “The fire kept getting more intense, climbing up and to the right because the wind was blowing so hard.Another eyewitness, 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.”“We could see it bubbling from the outside and then being engulfed from the outside.”
“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.”“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 broke out at 8.30pm on Friday night. Roads were closed and there was a large amount of smoke in the area. Greater Manchester police also said they were at the scene.The fire broke out at 8.30pm on Friday night. Roads were closed and there was a large amount of smoke in the area. Greater Manchester police also said they were at the scene.
Incumbent Labour candidate for Bolton South East, Yasmin Qureshi, warned people to stay away from the area and said she would be in contact with the emergency services. The GMFRS put out a statement quoting the University of Bolton’s vice chancellor, Prof George Holmes, in which he said: “We have assisted in ensuring students have been given temporary alternative accommodation at the Orlando student halls and in some Bolton hotels.
She said on Twitter: “There is an ongoing incident in Bolton town centre and the emergency services are asking people to stay away from the area for the time being. I will be liaising with the police and fire services to stay informed of developments.” “I would like to stress that The Cube is not owned by the University of Bolton. It is owned and managed by a private landlord and the students were not on our premises when during this incident,” Holmes’s statement added.
Emergency services said crews would remain on the scene for several more hours.