Fire at the ‘Toast Rack’
A FIRE broke out at the iconic Toast Rack building in Fallowfield last night.
Crews from across south Manchester were called to the Grade II listed structure after flames were seen in the windows of the 17th floor.
Black smoke billowed into the sky as pieces of debris fell from the upper section of the building, eyewitnesses said.
Six fire teams tackled the flames and brought the situation under control in around an hour. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
One witness told the M.E.N. they saw ‘concrete debris falling from the upper section of the building’, adding: “It’s not uncommon for trespassers to get onto the site and into the building. There are one or two unsealed access points where people can get in.
“I’m just glad the fire brigade arrived quickly and were able to put it out before it caused too much damage.
“It would have been a tragedy if it had to be knocked down.”
Manchester Metropolitan University sold the Toast Rack to developers for £5m in 2014 and a planning application was granted last year for 200 flats, a gym and coffee shop on the site.
A fire service spokesman said last night: “The fire is now out at the Toast Rack with crews bringing it under control in around one hour.
“Six crews remain at the scene but the incident will be scaled down over the next few hours with some firefighters staying to damp down and monitor the building.”