GMFRS continues to support Shaw residents

Firefighters and community safety staff remain in Shaw supporting Greater Manchester Police with work at the scene and providing any support they can to help residents in the aftermath of the incident

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service continues to help the community of Shaw in Oldham following the explosion.

Firefighters and community safety staff remain in Shaw supporting Greater Manchester Police with work at the scene and providing any support they can to help residents in the aftermath of the incident.

Numerous calls came in reporting an explosion in the Buckley Street area at 11.15am on Tuesday 26 June.

More than 30 firefighters were at the scene and spent hours carrying out a search of the immediate area and rubble.

Specialists from the GMFRS Urban Search and Rescue Team led efforts to rescue people from the site where four houses were destroyed.

The rescue work was supported by Lancashire and West Yorkshire fire and rescue services as well Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service and National Grid.

A 27-year-old man was taken to hospital by paramedics and a two-year-old boy died in the explosion.

GMFRS is now supporting the Greater Manchester Police investigation into the cause of the explosion.

Area Manager Sean Booth said: "First, and most importantly, our thoughts are with those who lost a little boy yesterday.

"Our role yesterday was very much that of emergency response - searching the area and trying to rescue people.

"Our role is now looking towards the safety of the scene and assisting the police with the investigation.

"We will also work with the community and help them return to normality as soon as possible."

As well as firefighters working at the scene to secure the buildings and support investigation work, two of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's volunteer Post Incident Teams were out offering their support to residents at rest centre and elsewhere in the community.