A large number of people were forced to evacuate after a fire broke out at a student apartment block in Salford.
On Monday evening, residents living in Salford University accommodation were instructed to leave their flats after a tumble dryer located in a communal laundry room caught fire.
Six fire crews were deployed to tackle the blaze, which occurred near the main reception of the Delaney 1 building at around 7:05 on Monday, 19 January.
Aydin Gorgun was forced to evacuate his apartment in the Delaney building after the fire broke out.
He said: “It was a weird experience to be honest, we did not know how long we were going to be out there.
“The fire engines turned up about 5 or 10 minutes after the alarm and then it was surreal just having no control, standing waiting.”
Students had to wait outside for an hour while emergency services brought the fire under control. They were allowed back into the premises at around 8:20pm.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At around 7.10pm today (Monday 19 January), six fire engines from across Greater Manchester attended a building fire involving a tumble dryer in a communal laundry room at a high-rise building on University Road, Salford.
“Crews wearing breathing apparatus arrived quickly and are using a gas monitor and two hose reels to extinguish the fire. Firefighters remain in attendance at this time.”
The apartment block is managed by Campus Living Villages who described the fire as “minor” and assured residents they will still be able to access washing facilities.
A Campus Living Villages spokesperson said: “A minor fire was reported in the laundry room of the Delaney building in Peel Park Quarter on the evening of Monday 19 January. Emergency services were contacted immediately and attended the scene promptly and declared the premises safe.
“On-site staff followed established safety procedures and ensured residents were evacuated safely and efficiently with no reports of injuries.
“The safety and wellbeing of our residents remains our highest priority and we have regular inspections from the fire authority and carry out rigorous fire safety checks on a weekly basis. We would like to thank the fire service and our on-site teams for their swift and effective response.
“Laundry facilities in the Delaney building are out of service whilst further checks are being carried out to establish the cause of the fire, and residents will be kept informed as appropriate. Residents can use alternative laundry facilities in the Lowry building in the meantime.”
