Eyewitnesses have reported seeing several fire crews in attendance, with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirming that eight crews have been sent to tackle the blaze
Firefighters have ordered members of the public to keep their doors and windows closed after emergency services rushed to the scene of a fire at a lithium battery factory this evening. Fire crews rushed to the “huge fire” at the Storage World in Middleton, Greater Manchester, which has erupted at a storage unit.
Eyewitnesses have reported seeing several fire crews in attendance, with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirming that eight appliances were sent to tackle the blaze. A fire service spokesperson said: “Firefighters are currently tackling a fire involving a storage unit at a commercial premises on Old Hall Street, Middleton.”
“Nearby residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed with some surrounding roads also closed.” A cordon has been set up in the immediate vicinity of the storage unit, where emergency crews are carrying out firefighting efforts both within and outside, and now extends around the entirety of Storage World.
A GMFRS representative on scene told the Mancheser Evening News that firefighters are “urrently carrying out firefighting internally and externally” in a bid to extinguish lithium ion batteries inside a storage unit.
A spokesperson told the publication: “There’s around 45 fire fighters on scene currently.” Pictures from the scene show dozens of gas-masked firefighters using specialised equipment to gain entry to the storage unit, with smoke seen cascading around the scene as firefighting efforts continue.
GMFRS said the service received a call to the scene at around 4.50pm this afternoon, and sent eight fire engines and “special appliances” from “across Greater Manchester” to tackle the developing blaze. A spokesperson added that people were asked to stay indoors due to a “large amount of fire being produced”.
They said: “At around 4.50pm on Wednesday eight fire engines and special appliances from across Greater Manchester were called to a fire involving a storage unit at a commercial property on Old Hall Street, Middleton.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reels to tackle the fire and remain in attendance to make the area safe. Road closures are in place and local residents are asked to keep their windows and doors closed due to a large amount of fire being produced.”
Smoke caused by the fire reportedly smells “like burning rubber”, and video from the scene shows massive clouds emanating from underneath the storage unit.