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Major road in Middleton closed as crews tackle phone mast fire and gas safety fears

Thursday, 6 November 2025 08:47

By David Murphy

The remains of the mast after a fire. Credit: Lindzy Meek

A phone mast fire shut down a key road in Middleton this morning, with firefighters and police establishing a safety cordon amid concerns about potential gas risks.

Emergency services rushed to Manchester Old Road, Middleton, at around 5am, today, Thursday 6 November following reports of a fire involving a mobile phone mast.

Three fire engines from Broughton, Chadderton and Heywood were deployed to the scene and quickly closed the road while crews worked to bring the fire under control. A cordon was put in place to protect the public, with traffic diverted away from the affected area.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that one engine remained on site later in the morning to continue working with partner agencies.

Greater Manchester Police were also present, managing traffic and assisting with the response.

Cadent gas engineers were called in due to fears over gas safety at the scene, though no injuries have been reported.

Images from the area show emergency vehicles and cordon tape surrounding the phone mast, which is situated near Broad Street in the Rhodes area of Middleton.

Traffic has been heavily affected throughout the morning, with congestion reported on surrounding roads including Manchester New Road.

The fire has prompted a significant response, though the cause of the blaze has not yet been made public.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area while the cordon remains in place and to follow local updates as the situation develops.

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