FIREFIGHTERS from ten fire crews have today tackled a blaze at Albert Square's Carlton House right by Manchester Town Hall.
"When the crews went inside to tackle the blaze they found the fire had spread through a duct in the building"
The fire - which emergency services say started in the basement kitchen of Rajdoot Indian restaurant - began around midday.
Police cordoned off much of Albert Square and Mount Street as up to 50 firefights battled against smoke billowing from the roof of Clegg & Knowles beautiful Carlton House building (completed in 1872).
Here's a quick glimpse of the devastation the fire has left at Albert Square pic.twitter.com/yH8GrliCRy
— Manchester Fire (@manchesterfire) January 13, 2015
Carlton House - nestled between Albert Square Chop House and George Redmayne's St Andrew's Chambers (1872) on the corner of Mount Street - also houses Tampopo pan-asian restaurant and offices.
Firefighters focussed their attention and hoses around the back of the building on County Street - where the blaze from Rajdoot's kitchen was emanating.
Smoke fills Albert Square
Firefighters tackle blaze from the back of Carlton House on County Street
Buildings including offices on Central Street, Velvet Central bar and the popular Bowler's Cafe were evacuated by emergency services as the fire worsened.
Firefighters eventually extinguished the fire by around 3.30pm.
Fire service incident officer, Warren Pickstone, told Confidential:
"We had a call around midday to say a fire had started in a restaurant basement, when we arrived people had already been safely evacuated by wardens.
"Our firefighters were confronted with a heavily smoke-logged building," he continued. "When the crews went inside to tackle the blaze they found the fire had spread through a duct in the building so we had to contain the fire and make sure it didn't spread to the other floors."
So we've some minor smoke damage at Albert Sq. Could've been much worse. Big thanks to @manchesterfire We'll be open again asap #cleanuptime
— Tampopo Restaurants (@TampopoEats) January 13, 2015
We spoke briefly to the Carlton House Group's building manager at the scene. He told Confidential that months of work to refurbish offices in the building had only just finished before the fire broke out.
"The smoke gets everywhere," he told us gloomily.
As it happened on Twitter...
FIRE in Albert Square. At least 7 fire trucks on the scene. Smoking billowing from Carlton House @mcrconfidential pic.twitter.com/XnCbXQO012
— David Blake (@David8Blake) January 13, 2015
Smoke billowing from the back of Carlton House now... pic.twitter.com/Kle1Wlo970
— David Blake (@David8Blake) January 13, 2015
Central Street buildings by Velvet Central and Friends Meeting House now being evacuated pic.twitter.com/CAgi75jVmR
— David Blake (@David8Blake) January 13, 2015
Noise is that fire started in a kitchen - no surprise there then. More to follow... pic.twitter.com/SW0iIbpZyj
— David Blake (@David8Blake) January 13, 2015
Commotion over following the fire at Rajdoot - tea's up it seems pic.twitter.com/MopW3lrCHh
— David Blake (@David8Blake) January 13, 2015
Up to 50 firefighters gathered at Carlton House
Firefighters prepare hoses
Ten fire engines attended the emergency
Buildings are evacuated on Central Street
Emergency services tackle the fire from County Street...
... and from above
Firefighters take a breather
Everything's ok up here
