'Close windows and doors' warning issued as blaze rages for hours in UK city
Cheetham Hill fire RECAP: 'Close windows and doors' warning as smoke engulfs area
Firefighters have been trying to tackle the blaze for hours.
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Add us as preferred source Comments live By Astha Saxena, News Reporter, Tom Burnett, Alice Scarsi, Publishing Lead 11:56, Sat, Jun 27, 2026 Updated: 14:44, Sat, Jun 27, 2026 
Firefighters swarmed the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester in a bid to tackle a huge building fire. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service crews were deployed to Broughton Street in the early hours of Saturday. The fire had been ongoing since at least 1am.
In pictures that emerged this morning, smoke from the blaze was visible for miles, with a number of road closures in place. At approximately 5.30am, the fire service urged residents in the area to keep their windows and doors closed due to the thick, low lying smoke passing north in Cheetham Hill. As the fire was brought under control, a spokesperson for the fire service said: "Firefighters arrived quickly and used two hose reel jets, one handheld jet and aerial appliance to bring the fire under control."
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KEY EVENTS
- End of our live coverage 11:56
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Firefighters dealt with a huge blaze in Cheetham Hill in the early hours on Saturday. Emergency services were at the scene of the incident on Broughton Street at around 1am on Saturday.
The fire is understood to have involved a warehouse. Smoke was visible for miles. A number of road closures were in place.
In a statement shortly after 2.30am, a Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "Our crews are currently dealing with a building fire on Broughton Street, Cheetham Hill in Manchester.
We are ending the live coverage for the incident.
Thanks for staying with us.
6 hours ago09:41 Astha SaxenaFire and Rescue service issues an update
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services said in an update on X: "Overnight, ten fire engines as well as specialist appliances were called to fire involving several single-story commercial buildings on Broughton Street, Manchester.
"Firefighters arrived quickly and used two hose reel jets, one handheld jet and an aerial appliance to bring the fire under control.
"Nearby residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed if there is visible smoke in their area."
6 hours ago09:02 Astha Saxena\ud83d\ude92 Overnight, ten fire engines as well as specialist appliances were called to fire involving several single-story commercial buildings on Broughton Street, Manchester.
\u2014 Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) June 27, 2026
Firefighters arrived quickly and used two hose reel jets, one handheld jet and an aerial appliance to bring\u2026 pic.twitter.com/NqiAHTtdDr
Greater Manchester Police issues statement
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement this morning: "This morning, our crews remain at the scene of a building fire on Broughton Street, Cheetham Hill in Manchester.
"Due to low lying smoke passing north in the Cheetham Hill area residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed and to avoid the area.
"Road closures are in place for Broughton Street and Bent Street."
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6 hours ago08:55 Astha SaxenaSmoke was visible for miles
Smoke was visible for miles.
Where is Cheetham Hill?
Cheetham Hill is a residential and industrial area in Manchester.
7 hours ago08:35 Alice ScarsiThick smoke engulfing the area
Smoke can be seen engulfing the street near the blaze in harrowing pictures, as firefighters are trying to bring it under control.
'Keep your doors and windows closed'
The fire and rescue service in Greater Manchester has urged people living in Cheetham Hill to keep their doors and windows closed as low lying smoke is passing north the area.
7 hours ago08:31 Alice Scarsi\ud83d\ude92 This morning, our crews remain at the scene of a building fire on Broughton Street, Cheetham Hill in Manchester.
Due to low lying smoke passing north in the Cheetham Hill area residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed and to avoid the area.
\ud83d\udeab Road\u2026 pic.twitter.com/9qUdF0bTSe\u2014 Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) June 27, 2026
Road closures in place
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has warned that, as it continues to tackle the fire, there are road closures in place.
The areas affected are Broughton Street and Bent Street.
7 hours ago08:30 Alice ScarsiWelcome to our live blog
Welcome to our live blog. We'll bring you the latest on the fire in Cheetham Hill.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
