Fire alarms did not sound when a blaze broke out at a block of flats as part of a “stay put” policy, officials say. The blaze broke out at the Sun Alliance House on Bradshawgate in Bolton town centre on the afternoon of Saturday September 7. Residents said they alerted each other about the fire using a Whatsapp group.
They have now said that they have been moved to a hotel on Great Ancoats Street in Manchester, apparently until next Tuesday, after being moved out on Saturday. One resident , who did not hear an alarm, said: “I’ve had to check out of the hotel in the morning, bring all of my luggage with me to work in Bolton and then bring it back.” She added: “We’ve had a lot of ongoing issues.
” The building had to be evacuated (Image: Phil Taylor) The Sun Alliance House residents were moved to a hotel first in Piccadilly Gardens and then on Great Ancoats Street in central Manchester, in many cases miles from their places of work. Speaking from the scene on Saturday, many also expressed concerns that they did not hear fire alarms go off after the blaze broke out in the bin storage area. But the Fire and Rescue Service have since said that this was intended as part of a “stay safe” policy.
A spokesperson said: “At 2pm on Saturday, September 7 six fire engines from Bolton Central, Bolton North, Farnworth , Bury and the aerial appliance from Manchester Central attended a fire in the bin storage of a residential block on Bradshawgate, Bolton. “Firefighters .