Residents said they heard a “loud bang” that shook many houses before they saw plumes of thick smoke. Then they heard “extra mini explosions” coming from the fire.
A man was injured during the incident and taken to hospital. It is currently in “critical but stable condition,” the GMP said.
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Members of the public were warned to avoid the area on Saturday afternoon and investigations are ongoing.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News a resident said they were living in the corner of the tent and woke up to a “loud bang”.
The car appeared to be burning with thick smoke (Image: Leonie Hallissey / Facebook)
“We heard a loud bang and the house shook, so I got up and checked if my family was okay, as it sounded like it was coming from inside the house,” he said.
“Fortunately everyone was fine, but my mom noticed smoke coming out of the houses back then, so we realized it must have been an explosion then. The smoke was quite thick and there were a few extra mini explosions that sounded like glass was breaking from the fire.
“We could not see from our house what had exploded or caught fire, but we knew it was one of the houses that had been hit. “Then two air ambulances and more emergency services arrived.”
Car wreckage after fire (Image: Vincent Cole / Manchester Evening News)
Another resident said they heard an explosion, looked outside and saw a car “on fire”.
“We heard an explosion, we looked outside and a car was on fire. “After a while, the fire had managed to catch the side of the house and so the side of the house caught fire.”
It is not known what caused the fire and investigations are ongoing.
Tire debris after fire (Image: Vincent Cole / Manchester Evening News)
A spokesman for the Greater Manchester Police Department said: “Around 10am. Today (Saturday, April 30, 2022), we were called by ambulance to respond to an incident at Ladyhouse Close, Milnrow.
“The police officers came and found fire in the vehicle and he was injured. The man was taken to hospital where he remains in critical but stable condition.
“Investigations are ongoing.”
Car wreckage after fire (Image: Vincent Cole / Manchester Evening News)
A GMFRS spokesman said: “Around 9:55 a.m. Saturday, April 30, firefighters were called to report a vehicle fire at Ladyhouse Close in Milnrow.
“A fire truck from the Rochdale fire station quickly arrived at the scene. The fire involved a car, as well as fencing and plastic gutter of a neighboring property. Firefighters wearing respirators used a hose reel and other special equipment to put out the fire.
“Fire crews were present for about two hours and 30 minutes.”
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