Family flee massive house fire (Norden)

Devastated: Young Rehan looks through the rubble outside his house

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A family has spoken of the moment they escaped a devastating house fire in Norden.

Panicked neighbours banged on the door of a house on Bagslate Moor Road yesterday afternoon (Monday 20 April), as two young men were inside among what they described as “thick black smoke”.

Zeeshan Mahmood (21) and Rehan Mahmood (16), who live at the house with their parents, luckily managed to get out in time, and no-one was injured.

Fire fighters from as far as Bury and Hyde rushed to the scene to get the flames under control.

Officers from the Fire Investigation Unit are still on scene and are dealing with what they described as an electrical fault.

Zeeshan Mahmood told Rochdale Online News how he and his 16-year-old brother were in the house as the fire happened.

He said: “We were both in downstairs rooms but there was thick black smoke and we didn’t even have time to put our shoes on, we had to get out quick.

“Seconds after we got out, there was thick black smoke everywhere and flames shooting through the roof.

“The neighbours realised before we did and were banging on the door to try and alert us.

“I would like to say thank you on behalf of my family to those neighbours.

“We have lived here exactly three years to the day of the fire – yesterday.

“My parents are very upset, we stayed with relatives last night and are hoping the insurers sort accommodation for us from tonight.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Fire fighters have been working constantly through the night, many of them are still there now."