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"We heard a huge bang": Roof obliterated as fire ravages house with five rushed to hospital
Residents told of the moment they heard a 'huge bang' after a fire ravaged a home in Bury on Sunday evening (June 22).
The roof of one home on Sandgate Road was left scorched and exposed after the blaze, which saw five people rushed to hospital from the scene at around 5pm.
Emergency services, including police, fire crews and paramedics, were scrambled to the residential street following reports of the blaze at a 'domestic property.' Five people were assessed at the scene before being taken to hospital. The full extent of their injuries is not yet known.
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Pictures from the scene showed the road taped off with multiple fire engines in attendance, along with police vans. Officers were stationed at either end of the cordon as fire crews were seen entering and conducting investigations at the home.
One family who live nearby said they heard a 'huge bang' that they described to being 'like massive fireworks going off' shortly before 5pm. Moments later they saw smoke filling the air and the roof of the house obliterated.
'We just heard this huge bang," they said. "We can see it from our window. It was like massive fireworks going off.
"Then we saw all the smoke and the fire brigade before we knew it. It looks like it spread from the house next door."
The roof of the home was exposed and smoking on Sunday evening, with the attic of the property seeming to have been the worst hit by the blaze. It's cause has not been confirmed.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: 'At just before 5pm today (Sunday 22 June) fire crews were called to reports of a fire at a domestic property on Sandgate Road, Whitefield.
'Six fire engines from Manchester Central, Whitefield, Heywood, Salford, Broughton and Agecroft quickly attended the incident. Firefighters used eight breathing apparatus and two hose reels to extinguish the fire.
'Five people were assessed at the scene and then conveyed to hospital by North West Ambulance Service. Crews remain in attendance.'
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) have been contacted for more information.
