Fire breaks out at Etihad campus ahead of Champions League match
ITV News' David Chisnall reports on the fire and Manchester City's upcoming match against Brugge.
A fire broke out outside of the Etihad stadium just hours before a vital Champions League match for Manchester City.
The nearby area has been evacuated as emergency services deal with the fire, which engulfed what is believed to be one of the outdoor merchandise stands.
The blaze broke out shortly before 6pm, close to where Pep Guardiola’s City team had been due to enter the stadium at around 6.30pm.
A post shared by Manchester City read: "Manchester City FC can confirm that there has been a fire in one of the outside merchandise kiosks, located near the entrance to the Colin Bell West Stand.
"Emergency services are present at the scene and the fire has now been extinguished. The safety of all attending the match tonight is our top priority, and as such all events planned for West Stand reception have been cancelled, including the welcome event for new players, and the first team arrival."
Supporters had gathered in the area for a pre-match entertainment show which included on-stage interviews with January signings Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.
The show had already begun with women’s players Rebecca Knaak and Aemu Oyama on stage at the time of the fire.
The event was suspended as flames took hold of the stand and stewards moved fans away before fire services arrived on the scene.
Multiple fire engines arrived on blue lights earlier this evening, with crowds in their hundreds being moved away from the area.
A message over the loudspeaker at the Etihad said: “The stadium is normal. Please enter the stadium as normal. However gates V, X and Y are closed this evening.
"Anyone from Gate Y to use Gate B and V or X to await further instructions. The area where the fire was is still closed off"
The cause of the blaze has not yet been confirmed.
The fire broke out just hours before Manchester City's was due to take on Brugge in a must-win match in the Champions League which will determine whether they stay in the tournament.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Just before 6pm this evening (Wednesday 29th January), two fire engines from Blackley and Philips Park fire station were called to reports of a building fire involving an outbuilding on the car park of the football ground on Rowsley Street, Manchester.
“Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two house reels to extinguish the fire, they are currently dampening down any hotspots and making the area safe.
“Firefighters have been in attendance for around twenty minutes and are still at the scene.”
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