Greenfield Fire Prompts Evacuations
Industrial Fire Near Greenfield Tesco Prompts Evacuations, Residents Warned
Key Points
GMFRS deployed 10 fire engines and a number of specialist appliances from across Greater Manchester to tackle the blaze.
Tesco Greenfield store remained temporarily closed and its car park was being used by fire crews.
Around 45 homes were evacuated on Knoll Close and Wellington Road as a precaution.
The incident follows Saddleworth Moor wildfires this summer, including a blaze near Holmfirth Road.
Residents were warned amid wildfire risk with a government emergency alert system delivering alerts about wildfire risk to millions of phones.
A large fire tore through an industrial warehouse on Chew Valley Road in Greenfield, Saddleworth, on Monday morning, forcing the closure of the nearby Tesco supermarket and prompting the evacuation of around 45 homes. Emergency services were called just after 7:45am, according to Metro and The Sun.
Thick black smoke billowed across the area, raising fears of toxic fumes. Residents were told to keep windows and doors closed and stay away from the scene. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service deployed 10 fire engines and several specialist appliances from across the region to battle the blaze, Daily Star reported.
45 Homes Evacuated as Toxic Fumes Spread
Around 45 homes on Knoll Close and Wellington Road were evacuated as a precaution, The Sun reported. Roads in the area were closed and a cordon was set up around the site. Firefighters warned residents to "stay away" from the area entirely.
Residents closest to the blaze faced the biggest risk from the smoke. Authorities described the fumes as potentially toxic, given the industrial nature of the building. No injuries were immediately reported, but officials urged anyone nearby to follow safety advice and remain indoors with windows shut.
Tesco Forced to Close, Car Park Taken Over by Fire Crews
The Tesco Greenfield supermarket, which sits close to the burning warehouse, was temporarily shut down. Fire crews moved into the store's car park to use it as a base for their operations, Daily Star reported. Shoppers arriving at the store were turned away.
Nearby businesses were also caught inside the cordon. The scale of the response — 10 fire engines plus specialist appliances — reflected the size and intensity of the blaze. Crews worked to bring the fire under control while keeping the public at a safe distance, Mirror reported.
Saddleworth Hit Again After Summer of Wildfires
This fire follows a difficult summer for the Saddleworth area. Wildfires broke out across Saddleworth Moor earlier this season, including a separate blaze near Holmfirth Road. Dry conditions across Greater Manchester have made the region especially vulnerable to fast-spreading fires.
The UK government sent emergency alerts about wildfire risk to millions of phones across the region in recent weeks. Authorities have urged people not to light fires outdoors during dry spells. Monday's warehouse blaze is the latest incident to test emergency services already stretched by the season's conditions, Metro reported.
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