Wigan Wharfside Flat Fire

More than 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze at a five storey block of flats close to Wigan town centre.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene in Wharfside off Heritage Way just before 4am when flats on the upper floor of the block were discovered to be on fire.

The incident quickly escalated and there are now 15 fire engines at the scene including crew from neighbouring Cheshire and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Services.

Residents in 120 flats at Wharfside, which runs alongside the Leeds to Liverpool Canal, were awoken by the fire alarm sounding and were immediately evacuated. Emergency planning officers from Wigan Council were at the scene and organised for The Mill at the Pier, which is right next door to the flats, to be opened as a rescue centre.

Area Manager Warren Pickstone is in charge of the incident. He said: “We are working extremely hard to bring this fire under control. We have more than 100 people here at the scene and they are tackling the fire from inside the building wearing breathing apparatus, from outside on an aerial platform and from the roof where they are cutting away sections to get better access to the building.

“The building itself is built using lots of timber and is complex in its design. We are using our new firefighting capabilities including the Ultra-High Pressure Lance technology. Our primary aim is to stop this fire from spreading.”

Officers from Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service are also in attendance. No-one is hurt.