Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) has issued an urgent warning after two fires break out in the city centre within the space of an hour.
Both incidents happened on the balconies of Manchester city centre apartments.
Firefighters were called to the first incident – which happened at a flat in a block on Ludgate Hill, in the Green Quarter area of the city centre – just before 9:30pm on Tuesday night, and was said to be the result of a disposable barbecue having been placed directly onto the wooden flooring of the balcony, causing a fire to start.
GMFRS said that crews managed to quickly extinguish the blaze and gave the flat’s residence fire safety advice.
The second incident happened at 11:02pm, where five fire engines and an aerial ladder platform attended a fire on the balcony of a second floor flat in Manchester – believed to be the Quantum Building, on Chapeltown Street in the Northern Quarter.
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The fire service confirmed that firefighters were at the scene for around 30 minutes.
☀ As we see some nice weather please be safe if you have a balcony.
👩🚒 Last night we attended two balcony fires in Manchester, one started by a BBQ.
❌ Never have a BBQ on a balcony and be careful with cigarettes if you smoke.
— Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) March 31, 2021
It is suspected that the fire ignited wooden garden furniture on the balcony, and was caused by a “carelessly discarded cigarette”.
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“As we are experiencing some nicer weather in Greater Manchester, it is really important that residents of flats are aware of fire safety when they use their balconies.” Paul Duggan – Area Manager and GMFRS Head of Prevention – said.
“We were fortunate that there were no injuries at the incidents we attended yesterday and that we were able to quickly bring them under control and stop any further spread [but] this is a timely reminder that residents of flats should never have BBQs on their balconies and should be particularly careful on their balconies if they smoke.
“We want people to enjoy themselves at home when the weather is nice – but please do so carefully”.
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Yesterday’s two incidents come after GMFRS last year responded to a number of fires on balconies during the warm weather, with the most common cause of these fires being BBQs or people throwing cigarettes from buildings, which can even cause fires on someone else’s balcony.
Most-notably, a discarded cigarette caused a fire at the Lighthouse apartment building in the Northern Quarter last year, which spread across a number of balconies and resulted in the full evacuation of the building, and there has been various similar cases of fires reported around the country which also started on balconies and caused significant damage to buildings.
These incidents sometimes resulted in residents needing to move out.
The government has issued advice to building owners about the potential risks posed by wooden balconies, and in most buildings, the use of BBQs on balconies is not permitted and may be a breach of the lease or tenancy agreement.
GMFRS says that residents therefore have a responsibility to co-operate with the fire safety arrangements for the building.
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Residents could face action if they put other people in the building at risk.
In order to help keep residents of apartments blocks as safe as possible as we head into the warmer months, GMFRS has issued these safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire on a balcony:
Do not use BBQs under any circumstances.
Never store flammable materials like gas on your balcony.
Reduce clutter and try and keep items on the balcony to a minimum.
If you smoke, make sure you fully stub cigarettes out and NEVER flick them off your balcony.
Medlock Square: Manchester’s new £300 million entertainment destination on the Etihad Campus
Danny Jones
Manchester’s newest entertainment destination, located over at the ever-growing Etihad Campus, has finally been given a name ahead of its launch later this year.
Alongside the recently announced and Radisson-run hotel, Medlock Square will see the Manchester City-partnered mini leisure district aim to become a new must-visit part of the city.
Hoping to draw in crowds beyond just matchdays and those heading to concerts across the way, approximately £300 million is being pumped into the project.
With Co-op Live having already brought huge revenues into Greater Manchester, it isn’t just set to be a pricey development, but one that will look to serve as yet another money spinner for the wider City Football Group (CFG) and the City Region.
Credit: CFG (supplied)
Unveiling the first CGIs of the square this week, this new area will essentially see attractions and activities spill out of the Etihad Stadium, Co-op Live and the soon-to-open Medlock hotel and on to the campus as a whole.
With other parts of Sportcity already revolving around the footballing epicentre, such as the Manchester Regional Arena and National Squash Centre, this will not only see even more sporting events and supporters brought to the roughly 80-acre plot, but also fans of various other forms of entertainment.
For instance, within the plans that already include the food and drink offerings you would expect – with Radisson Blu backing more of the relaxation and indulgent side of things – other activities include everything from “an adrenaline-fuelled sky walk experience”, as well as zip-wire and abseiling.
We already knew about some of these from the details in Man City’s stadium expansion plans (including the likes of The Medlock and rooftop bar), and glimpses of the impending hotel opening gave us a better idea of the overall look, but there looks to be plenty more in the pipeline.
You can see a trailer for what they have in mind for Medlock Square down below.
Welcome to Medlock Square. Manchester’s newest entertainment destination. A place where mouthwatering cuisine and world class entertainment, experiences and events converge. Coming soon! pic.twitter.com/4bC7NQbMHT
As per an official press release by the fledgling team, more information on further business and employment opportunities has also now been confirmed, centring around the new ‘One Medlock Square’ structure that will be built on the campus.
“Designed to accommodate up to 300 employees, the state-of-the-art workspace will offer high-quality, modern office facilities alongside access to shared event spaces and wellness amenities, uniquely positioned within Manchester’s most exciting new destination”, the statement reads.
There’s certainly some ambitious stuff in the works, put it that way.
And, of course, these will also slot into a renovated club shop turned meagstore, an all-new Man City museum, the Co-op arena, live music and other open-air events, just to name a few. A specific opening date is yet to be scheduled, but you can guarantee it’ll be a big deal when it does launch.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via City Football Group)
News
Staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals to start wearing body-worn cameras after rise ‘abusive behaviour’
Emily Sergeant
Frontline staff at four hospitals in Greater Manchester are set to start wearing body-worn cameras on their shifts.
In a move designed to protect and keep frontline healthcare colleagues safe following a noticeable rise in ‘abusive behaviour’ directed towards them, Northern Care Alliance has announced that it has made the decision to introduce body-worn cameras across all four of our hospitals in Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, and Salford.
It’s hoped that these small cameras will help create an overall ‘safer environment’ for staff and visitors, and also allow the NHS to use the footage as evidence in any criminal or civil court action.
— Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) (@NCAlliance_NHS) March 4, 2026
They will be worn by all designated clinical staff with the aim of reducing violent incidents of threatening behaviour for both staff and other patients.
So, how will they work?
The Northern Care Alliance has explained that the cameras are only activated when a worker feels threatened and only after informing the individual involved. Once switched on, they record both video and audio, creating a clear, unbiased account of what happened. This footage can be used to support investigations and deter future incidents.
Staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals are to start wearing body-worn cameras after a rise ‘abusive behaviour’ / Credit: Pxhere
“As a team working on the frontline of emergency care, we have welcomed the introduction of body‑worn cameras as an important step in protecting both our staff and our patients,” commented Julie Newton, who is the lead nurse in the Emergency Department at Fairfield General Hospital.
“Unfortunately, incidents of violence and aggression do occur, and these devices provide an objective record that helps ensure situations are managed safely and appropriately.
“Knowing that footage can support investigations and, where necessary, prosecution gives our colleagues greater confidence and reassurance.
“Most importantly, the cameras help us create a safer, more respectful environment so we can focus on delivering the best possible care to those who need us.”
The Manc -
1st April 2021 
