Shoppers were evacuated from a popular store in the city centre this afternoon following reports of 'smoke' in the building.
Six fire engines scrambled to the Zara store on New Cathedral Street just before 1pm on Monday afternoon (June 5). Their presence was triggered by smoke in the building, a fire service spokesperson said.
Firefighters were there for about an hour before making the building safe and leaving the scene, they said.
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“Just before 1pm this afternoon (Monday 5th June), six fire engines from Salford central, Moss Side, Philips Park, Broughton and Gorton fire station were called to reports of signs of smoke in a shop on Cathedral Street, Manchester," a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said.
“Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera, hearth kit and gas monitor to make the building safe. “Firefighters were in attendance for around an hour.”
One person at the scene, who gave his name as Russell, said: “I went up to the front door and some of the staff there said it was a false alarm and there was no fire."
Russell added: “There were about seven fire engines there. They must have all just flown down as a precaution because of it being in the city centre and because Zara is connected to other buildings.”
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