Firefighters race to city centre after bus bursts into flames

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Firefighters raced to Manchester city centre after a bus burst into flames. Smoke billowed from the double decker bus during an incident last night.

Fire crews were called to Chester Road, near Castlefield and the Mancunian Way, at about 7.30pm. It's not believed that anyone was hurt in the fire. The cause of the blaze is unclear.

An onlooker said the driver was the only person on the bus. They told the M.E.N.: "We were walking past and saw lots of smoke and then the fire started.

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"The bus driver tried putting out the flames using an extinguisher, but that didn't work and the flames built up. The bus was empty, it was just the driver who got to safety."

Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service said firefighters spent about 40 minutes bringing the blaze under control. A spokesperson for GMFRS said: "Just after 7.30pm yesterday evening (Friday 20 May) firefighters were called to reports of a bus on fire on Chester Road, Manchester.

"Two fire engines from Moss Side and Salford fire stations arrived quickly at the scene. Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to extinguish the fire and make the scene safe. GMFRS were in attendance for around 40 minutes."

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