Huge fire in Manchester leaves locals fearing ‘we are at war’

A huge fire has broken out on an industrial estate in Greater Manchester.

Thick black smoke is floating over Ennis Close, part of the Roundthorn Industrial Estate in Wythenshawe.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service says the fire involves HGVs and several nearby homes have been evacuated.

Residents said they heard ‘popping sounds’ and one local even thought ‘we were at war’ over the thick smoke and huge flames filling the sky.

Local Lisa Baines commented: ‘Nothing like being woken up on a Sunday morning by loads of explosions. Thought Putin had come for us.’

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: ‘Shortly after 8.15am on Sunday 23 February, 10 fire appliances from across Greater Manchester were called to attend a fire involving heavy goods vehicles on Ennis Close, Manchester.

‘Crews arrived quickly and are working hard to extinguish the fire. Several nearby properties have been evacuated.

‘Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service are also in attendance.’

The fire service is also recommending that nearby residents keep their doors and windows closed and avoid the area.

At 11am, the fire service said the majority of the fire had been extinguished, with their response scaled back to four fire engines.

Nearby Leadson Road and Floats Road are both currently closed to traffic, according to Google Maps traffic data.

The fire is located close to Wythenshawe Hospital.

Local comments about fears of ‘war’ on the horizon might feel a little out of proportion – but there’s a lot happening in the world right now to put people on edge.

It goes without saying that the fire at Ennis Close is not, as locals feared, in any way connected to the Vladimir Putin or Russia’s war on Ukraine.

But Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky are caught up in a war of words about who actually started the war – leaving Ukrainians with no choice but to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

Metro has contacted Greater Manchester Police and the North West Ambulance Service for more information

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