Fire crews in Greater Manchester spent hours tackling a serious blaze at a derelict building in Radcliffe on Tuesday evening, with residents reporting loud explosions. Eight fire engines and three specialist appliances were deployed to Milltown Street, near the River Irwell, after the fire broke out at around 7pm.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) urged residents to avoid the area and close windows and doors due to a large plume of smoke, which was visible as far as Bolton and parts of Manchester. Crews used water from the River Irwell to help extinguish the flames, setting up a large cordon and diverting traffic.
Locals told the Manchester Evening News they heard a “really large explosion,” with similar reports on social media. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but no injuries are thought to have occurred. The incident follows a similar fire at a derelict mill on the same street in September 2024, and a 2022 blaze at a plastic storage unit.
