The building ravaged by fire on Oldham Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter may need to be entirely demolished.
Firefighters have reduced restrictions on residents and businesses entering homes and shops on the street, however some cordons remain in place.
They are now in place only in the immediate area surrounding the burned-out building, which first went ablaze at around 6pm last night.
Station Manager Tony Bryan, who was Incident Commander throughout the day, said: “Obviously, this is causing huge disruption to those who live and work in the Northern Quarter and we do not underestimate the impact this is having on them and that is why we’ve set up the community vehicle as a focal point for anyone wanting more information.”
Firefighters continued to work into this afternoon, and Oldham Street is still closed between Warwick Street and Houldsworth Street.
This should mean better access for those who live and work on the larger section that had been shut last night and well into today.
The remaining closures are not expected to be lifted until late tomorrow afternoon.
When the building was assessed at 11am today, officers from Manchester City Council says more work was needed to decide if it can be saved.
Three crews have remained on the scene throughout the day and specialist Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) officers have been at the building to help assess its safety and begin an investigation into the cause of the blaze.
Picture courtesy of @visuals0und, with thanks.
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