30 firefighters were scrambled to tackle a large blaze at a set of derelict buildings in Salford.
The former Mainline taxi offices, behind St Thomas’s Church in Pendleton, were completely engulfed in flames when fire broke out at around 2.10pm today, Thursday 28 April.
Thick black smoke poured from the roof space and could been seen across central Salford and into Manchester.
No-one is thought to be inside and no-one has been reported injured.
The fire is still causing traffic chaos into rush-hour with road closures (details below) past 5pm.
Four fire appliances were called to the scene from Salford, Agecroft, Broughton and Hyde.
By Karen Montague
Just 30 minutes later Greater Manchester Fire also sent a hydraulic platform to Ford Lane to get more elevation on the fire and tackle the source.
As of 2.35pm, police put in a road closure in both directions on Ford Lane.
There was extremely heavy traffic build-up in the area around the fire, with long tailbacks in both directions towards and away from Manchester.
HGVs in particular were struggling to get through.
By Andy Pratt
Traffic bumper to bumper on Lissadel Street – Brian Doyle
Police closed part of Cromwell Road, from Cobden Street to the Cromwell roundabout, and in the opposite direction up the hill from Gloucester Street to Pendleton roundabout.
The building itself has suffered multiple arsons in the past and is structurally unsound.
In October 2015 a section of the roof caved in after the blistering heat of a six-hour fire, which is thought to have been started deliberately.
Read: Demolition plans for ex-Mainline building after serious Salford fire
Pictures: Thermal images from fire drones of Mainline fire
Update: As of 3pm six fire appliances are on scene, along with a rapid response vehicle from North West Ambulance Service and a Greater Manchester Fire Command Incident Support Unit.
Greater Manchester Fire’s drone air support unit also arrived on Ford Lane this afternoon.
The unmanned flying camera will be used to take thermal shots of the building to help fire crews to know where to direct their water jets.
Firefighters are still on scene as of 5.30pm on Thursday.
Crews are using a high-pressure thermal lance similar to that used in the Cobden Street fire last week to keep the blaze under control.
It is considered too dangerous to enter the buildings directly to tackle the fire.
Greater Manchester Fire’s ultra high-pressure cold cutting lance can pierce a hole through a wall, allowing crews to attack a fire from outside a building.
The lance then pumps water onto the fire in a mist of droplets, smothering the flames and rapidly reducing the temperature.
Main image by Sidshots
Additional reporting and photography by Sidshots
