Cigarette sends apartment balcony up in flames as fire service issue warning

A discarded cigarette sent an apartment balcony up in flames causing the glass to smash and fall onto another balcony below in Salford.

Crews were called to the scene at a block of flats on Blackfriars Road in Salford on Friday night (June 9) after a cigarette, that was left in a plant pot, set fire to the wooden balcony.

The safety glass shattered in the blaze, with burning debris also falling down onto another balcony, causing a second fire within minutes.

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The fire service were also called out to another incident on Saturday morning (June 10) when a three-storey townhouse on River Street, Manchester, caught fire after another cigarette had been discarded on a balcony. One of the fires was at a building with flammable cladding.

These incidents also come after another blaze at an apartment in Wythenshawe on June 1, which saw a fire started by a tealight on a balcony spread into the property, causing significant damage.

The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have now issued a warning, urging people living in high-rise buildings to ensure that cigarettes have been properly put out and to not have barbeques on balconies.

GMFRS’ Head of Protection, Jenni Seex, said: "The warm weather is welcome, but what we have seen in recent years is this often leads to residents deciding to barbecue on balconies. We want residents to be able to enjoy their balconies but to also ensure they don’t put themselves or anyone else in danger.

“Barbecues and discarded cigarettes are the most common causes of fires on balconies, which is why GMFRS will be taking a tougher approach to residents who put their property and neighbours at risk by having barbeques on