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Huge blaze in Gorton
Amanda Crook and Deborah Linton21/ 7/2008
NEIGHBOURS stand and stare in disbelief as a huge black cloud billows over their homes on a suburban street.
Flames shot hundreds of feet into the air and a series of explosions rocked the estate in Gorton during a massive blaze at a nearby warehouse.
No-one was hurt, but more than 200 homes were evacuated as 50 firefighters battled to control the blaze.
Containers of acetylene and liquid petroleum gas were in the warehouse and two cylinders exploded - one ripping through the roof of a neighbouring building and another shooting flames high into the air.
Residents from Crossley Street and Gorton Lane were evacuated to Emmanuel Parish Church on Blackwin Street and the nearby Somerfield car park on Hyde Road.
Lynne Allen, 53, lives three doors away from the site of the fire on Marjorie Close.
She said: "I'd been babysitting my grandsons and was making a cup of tea when I heard a lot of noise outside.
"I went out and there was thick black smoke coming through the roof and flames through the skylight windows.
Explosions
"There have been a lot of explosions since.
"Police told us to leave the house so I just grabbed my keys and went."
Her mother, Veronica Burns, 83, lives in a flat on Crossley Street. She said: "A couple of the explosions have been quite big. You could feel them through the ground and you could feel the heat coming off one of them."
Other people living close to the fire were advised to close their windows and stay indoors as the plume of smoke spread over east Manchester.
Hyde Road and Pottery Lane were closed causing traffic chaos during the evening rush hour.
At the height of the blaze ten fire engines were battling the blaze at the pallet factory.
It is not known how it started, just after 3.30pm. It was brought under control at around 7.30pm but firefighters then had to check the area for more gas cylinders.
The residents who were evacuated were not expected to be allowed to return home until this morning. A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue said: "We are assessing the scene carefully to check for more gas cylinders. Two gas containers have already exploded - one into the next door building - which is why we have to evacuate the surrounding areas.
"We are continuing to damp down the scene to cool the area and the blaze is not as hot as it was but we do not expect people living close by will be able to return tonight."
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Anyone who has not been evacuated but who lives locally is also being asked to stay indoors and to close all doors and windows until the smoke disperses."
Have you taken any pictures of the fire? Email them to us and we will include them on this article.
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23/07/2008 at 05:29
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