A ROAD was closed both ways in Radcliffe when a fire broke out at a petrol station.
Due to the incident at 9.30am on Sunday, Bury Road in Radcliffe was closed in both directions between Spring Lane and Withins Lane.
People were being urged to avoid the area if possible while emergency services were on the scene, and families were evacuated from nearby houses.
Fire crews from six stations spent around three hours tackling the blaze and the road was reopened by about 1pm.
A woman who lives next door said: "I was in the bathroom when I heard a noise. It sounded like water. So I opened the window and saw the petrol station shop up in smoke and flames.
"I ran downstairs to tell my husband and at this point there wasn't even a fire engine that had arrived. My husband told me to quickly get dressed because we could get evacuated. And not even in a minute later, the police knocked on the door to tell us to evacuate. We left to go to my mum's house and stayed there 11.30am."
Another neighbour said: "All I saw were fire engines this morning and I asked the policeman what had happened and he said it was a shop fire. They said we might be evacuated but then it was contained so they didn't need me to leave. This was about 9.30am."
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At 9.30am this morning (Sunday 21 November) firefighters were called to reports of a fire involving the shop unit of a petrol station on Bury Road, Radcliffe.
PIC: Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service
“Six fire engines from Bury, Bolton, Broughton, Farnworth and Whitefield fire stations, plus an Aerial Platform appliance from Manchester Central, arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used three hose reels and a hose jet to extinguish the fire, before helping to make the scene safe.”
PIC: Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service
GMFRS Area Manager Ben Levy commented: “Thanks to the swift action of our control room operators and fire officers at the scene, the impact of this fire was limited to the building. Whilst some congestion may occur in the surrounding areas, the incident is now contained.”
Smoke engulfed the building of Morrisons Daily according to one firefighter and the crew spent three hours containing the fire.
A smell of smoke remains in the air as the public are encouraged to keep away from the petrol station, although roads are now open.
The fuel station remains closed as an investigation is under way to find the cause of the fire. One fire engine remained at the scene on Sunday afternoon.
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