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Bolton flats blaze: Students 'confused as alarms go off daily' Bolton flats blaze: Students 'confused as alarms go off daily'
(30 minutes later)
A row has broken out over fire alarms after a major blaze forced the evacuation of hundreds of students. A row has broken out over fire alarms after a blaze forced the evacuation of a block of student accommodation.
Residents fled The Cube in Bolton after the fire on Friday, which was tackled by up to 200 firefighters for more than nine hours.Residents fled The Cube in Bolton after the fire on Friday, which was tackled by up to 200 firefighters for more than nine hours.
Two people were treated at the scene, including one who was rescued by crews using an aerial platform, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue said. Two were treated at the scene, including one who was rescued by crews using an aerial platform, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue said.
One resident said many were confused as fire alarms go off "almost every day".One resident said many were confused as fire alarms go off "almost every day".
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dave Keelan said: "The fire... really did spread very quickly and that was evident to see on the footage that's on social media." Assistant chief fire officer Dave Keelan said: "The fire... really did spread very quickly and that was evident to see on the footage that's on social media."
He confirmed the "cladding on this building was not the same as that on Grenfell", which was destroyed by a fire that killed 72 people in 2017. He said an investigation had been launched into the blaze and confirmed the "cladding on this building was not the same as that on Grenfell", which was destroyed by a fire that killed 72 people in 2017.
Prof George E Holmes, vice-chancellor of the University of Bolton, whose students live at the block, said "very minor injuries" had been reported.Prof George E Holmes, vice-chancellor of the University of Bolton, whose students live at the block, said "very minor injuries" had been reported.
"I can't say enough about how pleased we were with the response - it's been amazing from all emergency services," he said."I can't say enough about how pleased we were with the response - it's been amazing from all emergency services," he said.
He said the Cube is not owned by the university but owned and managed by a private landlord, who has not yet commented.He said the Cube is not owned by the university but owned and managed by a private landlord, who has not yet commented.
Resident Afnan Gohar said: "The fire alarms go off almost every day so we just thought this was just another false alarm.Resident Afnan Gohar said: "The fire alarms go off almost every day so we just thought this was just another false alarm.
"We didn't take notice of it until a girl came running and screamed, telling us to get out and we didn't believe it at first.""We didn't take notice of it until a girl came running and screamed, telling us to get out and we didn't believe it at first."
Shannon Parker, who also lives in the building, 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.Shannon Parker, who also lives in the building, 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.
"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."
Other students posted on social media that they had not heard the fire alarms in their part of the building. Melissa McGarrigle said alarms in students' rooms did not go off although other alarms were set off inside the building.
"The fire alarms in the corridor went off but they aren't particularly loud, especially if you're asleep.
"It just doesn't feel real, everyone thought it was just the fire alarms acting up as usual until we heard people screaming."
Eva Crossan Jory, vice president of welfare for the National Union of Students, said it had been "calling for a number of improvements in fire-safety measures in student accommodation".
"It shouldn't take another fire to put the issue of building safety back on the agenda," she said.
"Student safety must always be the first priority for accommodation providers and the government."
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 on social media showed debris falling from the building and firefighters tackling flames coming out of the windows on the top floors.
Football fans attending Bolton Wanderers' match have been asked to donate items for evacuated residents.
The University of Bolton said it was supporting students and was offering temporary accommodation and provisions at other student halls and in some hotels.The University of Bolton said it was supporting students and was offering temporary accommodation and provisions at other student halls and in some hotels.
Forty fire engines were called to the scene of the blaze, which affected every floor after breaking out at about 20:30 GMT.Forty fire engines were called to the scene of the blaze, which affected every floor after breaking out at about 20:30 GMT.
GMFRS has asked unaccounted residents to contact authorities to let them know they are safe. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has asked unaccounted residents to contact authorities to let them know they are safe.
Videos on social media showed debris falling from the building and firefighters tackling flames coming out of the windows on the top floors. Assistant chief fire officer Mr Keelan added a team have "concentrated purely on the high-rises across Greater Manchester to make sure that we learn from Grenfell".
Mr Keelan added a fire service team have "concentrated purely on the high-rises across Greater Manchester to make sure that we learn from Grenfell".
"The evacuation procedure and subsequent training - and putting it into practice last night - has paid absolute dividends," he told a press conference."The evacuation procedure and subsequent training - and putting it into practice last night - has paid absolute dividends," he told a press conference.
"We are going to continue to be here throughout the day and working very closely with the building owner to move this forward in the coming days.""We are going to continue to be here throughout the day and working very closely with the building owner to move this forward in the coming days."