Manchester Burger King fire LIVE: Horror blaze breaks out above city centre restaurant
Firefighters have rushed to the scene in Piccadilly Gardens as pictures show bright orange flames engulfing the building.
Manchester: Fire at Burger King in Piccadilly Gardens
A horrific fire has broken out above a Burger King in Manchester city centre. Dramatic pictures and video show the burning building in Piccadilly Gardens, with a number of floors believed to be alight.
Firefighters have rushed to the scene and are battling flames and plumes of smoke.
A ladder and a hose are being used to try and combat the fierce fire, while police say they are "managing the crowd" with a cordon around Piccadilly Gardens.
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Fire has died out and tram services resume
The fire has now died out and fire service personnel can be seen packing up at the scene.
Firefighters are dampening down the area.
Tram services are now able to resume in the area, its operator confirmed.
Services can now operate through. Please bear with us whilst we reform the network. Delays are to be expected. https://t.co/dwLLPSOBGJ
— Bee Network (@BeeNetwork) March 1, 2024
Nobody is believed to be injured
A spokesperson for the North West Ambulance Service confirmed no-one was injured in the fire.
The fire is believed to have taken place on the second and third floors of the building.
Crowds gather in city centre as firefighters continue to tackle blaze
A large crowd can be seen gathering in the city centre to watch as emergency services continue to fight the blaze.
A cordon is in place and around a dozen emergency vehicles are on the scene.
#Manchester Piccadilly Burger king building fire. Hope everyone is ok. Area busy with police and firefighters. Trams backed up and not running. pic.twitter.com/p8GXSyIYKU
\u2014 Thomas (@tom_rhys) March 1, 2024
Tram services inoperable due to fire
Tram services are not operating in the city centre due to the fire.
The following service changes are in place:
Airport to Firswood
Altrincham to Deansgate-Castlefield
Ashton to Piccadilly Station
Bury to Victoria Station
East Didsbury to Exchange Square
Eccles to Cornbrook
Rochdale to Victoria Station
Trafford Centre to Cornbrook
Passengers are being advised to walk between stops if they need to connect to another service.
City centre at standstill as police set up cordon
The centre of Manchester has hit a standstill as a cordon is set up around the blaze.
A GMP spokesperson confirmed officers have set up a cordon and are managing the crowd in Piccadilly Gardens.
The cordon is in place from Mosley Street and Market Street to Picadilly Gardens
Seven fire engines on the scene as firefighters race to tackle blaze
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: "Shortly after 11am today (Friday February 1) five fire engines from Manchester Central, Moss Side, Salford, Blackley, and Broughton fire stations were called to reports of a fire involving a commercial building on Market Street, Manchester.
"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using two hose reels and a jet to tackle the fire. Crews remain in attendance."
They later confirmed that seven fire engines in total are now battling the fire.
Video shows smoke rising from the city centre
Footage from near the Burger King shows smoke rising from the city centre.
Fire services are currently on the scene tackling the blaze.
Fire next to the Burger King pic.twitter.com/csmKkoHnbM
\u2014 Matthew (@PrincePurple95) March 1, 2024
Welcome to our live coverage of the Burger King fire in Manchester
We will be providing you with the latest updates on the fire at the restaurant in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester.