Residents in Manchester flats are once again being urged to take extra care when enjoying the warm weather on their balconies this summer.
It comes after instances of balcony fires occurred twice in a 24-hour period this week.
As the temperatures continue to soar as we power on into the summer months, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has issued a fresh safety warning after crews first attended a fire at a residential apartment block on Blackfriars Road in Salford last Friday evening (9 June), and were then called out to another similar incident just before 11am the day after (Saturday 10 June) at a three-storey townhouse on River Street in Manchester city centre.
The fire at the Salford apartment block happened when a wooden balcony on the 13th floor ignited after a cigarette was left in a dry plant pot, and subsequently caused the balcony’s safety glass to shatter and fall onto other balconies below.
Thankfully, firefighters were able to prevent the fires from spreading further and there were no injuries, but there was, however, “considerable damage” to balconies.
ADVERTISEMENT
📢 After two balcony fires in the space of 24 hours at the weekend, we want to remind people:
❌ Never barbecue on a balcony ❌ Never store flammable materials or gas on a balcony ❌ Never flick cigarettes off a balcony – always dispose of them safely
— Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) June 13, 2023
At the River Street townhouse, it was virtually the same scenario, as GMFRS confirmed the fire had also been caused by the unsafe disposal of a cigarette on a balcony, and although the blaze was extinguished before crews arrived, a damaged section of decking had to be removed to make sure the area was safe.
After these two fires within the 24-hour period, GMFRS is now warning residents in high-rise buildings to “take fire safety seriously”, never have a barbecue on a balcony, and also be more cautious when smoking.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The warm weather is welcome, but what we have seen in recent years is this often leads to residents deciding to barbecue on balconies,” explained Jenni Seex – Head of Protection and GMFRS.
“We want residents to be able to enjoy their balconies, but to also ensure they don’t put themselves or anyone else in danger.”
Fresh safety warning issued to Manchester residents after two balcony fires in 24 hours / Credit: GMFRS
GMFRS says it will also be working with housing providers, landlords, and managing companies to ensure residents are aware of fire safety advice and, where necessary, “support action being taken” against those who put their neighbours at risk this summer.
In extreme cases, GMFRS it will look at whether legal powers allow it to take action directly against residents to “place legal restrictions on how they use their balcony”.
Featured Image – GMFRS
News
Trailer released for new romcom Finding Emily set and filmed all across Manchester
Emily Sergeant
The first trailer for a new romcom that’s set and filmed all across Manchester has been released.
The film, titled Finding Emily, tells the story of a lovesick musician, played by Spike Fearn, who meets his dream girl on a night out, but ends up with the wrong phone number, and so teams up with a driven psychology student, played by Angourie Rice, in a bid to find her.
Together, the unlikely duo spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.
The film – which is directed by Alicia MacDonald, and based on a screenplay written by Rachel Hirons – is produced by Working Title Films, is set in the fictional Manchester City University, and is due to be distributed by Focus Features and Universal Pictures across the UK and internationally this spring.
The talented ensemble cast groups together big names like Minnie Driver with rising stars like Ella Maisy Purvis, Yali Topal Margalith, and Kat Ronney, as well as other established actors including Timothy Innes and Nadia Parkes.
Filming took place in Manchester between August and September 2024.
The two and a half-minute trailer has been shared with the world today, and when we say it’s a Manc film, we mean it… we quite literally lost count of how many of our city’s famous locations can be spotted in just the trailer alone.
The trailer has been released for new romcom Finding Emily set and filmed in Manchester / Credit: Universal Pictures & Focus Features (via YouTube)
There’s everything from Manchester Central Library and Piccadilly Records, to Canal Street and the Gay Village, the Northern Quarter, the Crown & Kettle pub in Ancoats, and even the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St Peter’s Square featured for all to see, alongside what’ll, presumably, be dozens of other famous locations.
Oh, and not to mention, if you keep your eyes peeled when watching the trailer, you can even see a small clip of Stockport band Blossoms playing a gig in there too.
Finding Emily is set to be released in cinemas across the UK on 22 May, before it debuts in the US on 28 August.
Featured Image – Matt Squire / Focus Features
News
Man jailed following series of ‘violent’ knife attacks in Wigan town centre last summer
Emily Sergeant
A man has been sentenced this week following a series of ‘violent’ knife attacks in Wigan town centre last summer.
Charles McMurray, of Satchel Close in Wigan, appeared at Bolton Crown Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of Section 18 wounding with intent, threatening a person with a bladed article, and threats to kill following a distressing incident in Wigan town centre last summer.
The court heard that McMurray arrived on Wallgate at around 6:33am on 9 August 2025 before entering a taxi office, where he stabbed two men without warning.
The victims fled, and McMurray pursued them towards the town centre.
McMurray then went on to threaten a passer‑by at Wigan bus station and held a knife to the man’s stomach. A short time later, he located the injured victims on Standishgate and assaulted one of them again. Following that assault, he chased after another member of the public with the knife shouting that he was going to kill him.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers arrived shortly after 6:50am and found McMurray in possession of the knife, before he was subsequently quickly arrested at the scene.
McMurray has now been sentenced to nine years and nine months behind bars, which police say is a ‘testament to the brave victims’ who gave their accounts.
Speaking following McMurray’s sentencing this week, Detective Constable Harris from Wigan CID, who led the investigation, said: “This was an entirely unprovoked attack which left multiple victims requiring hospital treatment. McMurray is a dangerous and violent offender who is now safely behind bars.
“Knives have no place on our streets, and we hope today’s sentence shows just how seriously we take knife crime. Our communities should feel safe where they live and work, and we are committed to tackling knife crime to ensure no family has to face their loved ones being harmed.
“It is a testament to the brave victims who not only endured this attack but had the courage to provide detailed accounts together with the impact this has had on them, that we have been able to ensure McMurray has been brought to justice.”
Emily Sergeant -
15th June 2023 
