On June 23rd, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) responded to a significant fire at the derelict Hotspur Press building on Cambridge Street in Manchester city centre.
The incident saw a substantial deployment of resources, with 28 fire engines and over 100 firefighters from across Greater Manchester working to bring the blaze under control. The fire caused considerable disruption in the surrounding area, leading to the evacuation of nearby apartment buildings and the cordoning off of roads. Rail services into Oxford Road station were also affected due to large quantities of smoke impacting the railway tracks.
GMFRS successfully brought the fire under control by approximately 9:00 PM on the same day. Crews remained on site until the following day to ensure the complete extinguishment of the blaze and to prevent any reignition.
A statement issued by GMFRS said: “Firefighters have been working hard overnight to extinguish the fire. At the height of the blaze, over 20 fire engines, two aerial units and over 100 firefighters were working at the scene in warm and humid conditions.
“The fire spread to several balconies at the two tower blocks at number 1 Cambridge Street, and we took the decision to evacuate all residents. Firefighters worked tirelessly to ensure all occupants made it out of the buildings safely, and there are no reports of any occupants suffering ill health.”
The evacuation significantly impacted approximately 180 residents, who were displaced from their homes. These individuals sought temporary accommodation in nearby hotels or with friends and family. One apartment block remained closed as GMFRS, Manchester City Council, and the building owner collaborated to ensure the building's structural safety and integrity.
Manchester City Council's city centre manager, Pat Karney, described the building as "a very famous building" and a "piece of Manchester". Pat also raised concerns about fires in densely developed areas such as this, saying, "It's incredibly dangerous to have fires in city centres. We'll have to learn lessons." You can't ignore the dangers. The buildings are too close to each other."
Specialist fire officers from GMFRS are currently investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the extent of the structural damage to the building.
Ben Levy, Head of Operations and Area Manager at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, said, "The building currently looks very unstable.
"In a building like this, which is so old and dry, with a wooden structure, on a dry afternoon with a bit of wind, it will sadly burn very easily.
"This building has stood here in a sorry state of repairs for many years. But it's a sad day for Manchester where buildings like this are potentially lost."
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