One injured after fire engulfs a 12-storey block of flats in central Manchester as rescuers are seen battling the blaze on balconies

A fire broke out on the ninth floor of a 12 storey tower block in Manchester's Northern Quarter.
Flames and smoke spread to several floors of the building and one person has been taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

The building is situated close to Afflecks Palace, an indoor market situated on the next street.
Twelve fire engines were deployed and a firefighter was seen leaping from one balcony to another after being pictured outside a burning apartment.

As the blaze raged, Manchester Fire and Rescue Service tweeted: 'We still have 12 fire appliances tackling the blaze in the Northern Quarter over a number of floors.

'Firefighting in still ongoing and one casualty has been taken to hospital suffer by smoke inhalation. Please avoid the area as roads are still shut.'

In a statement, the service also said: 'We're currently tackling a fire on the 9th floor of a 12 storey building on Joiner Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter.'

Damian Butters and his wife Irena, from Russia, were staying on the 13th floor of the apartment block during a visit to Manchester for the New Year.

They were told by a firefighter not to leave the building as there was too much smoke on the stairs.
‘It was pretty scary, my wife’s first reaction was it the same sort of building as the one in London Grenfell Tower,’ Mr Butters told the Manchester Evening News.

‘Reception told us to stay in the room until we waited for further information. Eventually a fireman came in and reassured us all was OK but we were not allowed to leave the hotel.

‘They told us there was too much smoke on the stairs. We’ve been waiting for more than an hour so far.’

It is also understood that external balconies on the building were also on fire.
Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the fire is now under control in a tweet saying: ‘The fire had spread to multiple floors but we have things well under control here.

‘Firefighters along with colleagues from the Police and Ambulance service have done an amazing job to tackle this difficult incident.’

Onlookers broke into spontaneous applause as firefighters doused the flames, which appear to be reducing in ferocity. The service also flew a drone around the block afterwards showing the devastation wrought by the fire.

A witness told the BBC: ‘The fire has now been doused. A big hose on some kind of crane got it under control. ‘The crowd has been applauding the firefighters as they are doing a heroic job.’
Lucy Powell, Labour and Cooperative MP for Manchester Central, quoted a witness on the ground who claimed the fire had been ‘put out’.

She also said officials would ensure that everyone who was evacuated from the block of flats would have somewhere to stay.

Referencing local councillor Pat Karney, Ms Powell said: ‘Pat is at the scene and tells me the fire has been put out.
‘He and the council will ensure that everyone evacuated will have somewhere to stay. All fire and response procedures have kicked in.

‘Again, please stay away from the area to allow services access.’
Just after 6pm she tweeted: ‘I have spoken with the Manchester fire service. The #manchesterfire is under control and the building is being safely evacuated.

‘Paramedics & others are at the scene to triage all those affected but no serious injuries known. Thank you our brilliant firefighters & paramedics.’
A number of roads were sealed off by police as the fire raged in shocking footage captured here.