Forty-five homes on two streets in Greenfield, near Oldham, were evacuated on the morning of 16 August 2026 after a large fire broke out at a neighbouring industrial site. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed residents of Wellington Road and Knoll Close were moved out as flames sent thick plumes of black and orange smoke into the sky, with the blaze first spotted just after 07:30 BST.
A cordon was put in place and surrounding roads were closed as crews worked to bring the fire under control, with the public urged to stay away from the area while the operation continued.
How many people and businesses were affected?
Beyond the 45 evacuated households, the disruption extended to local businesses. According to the Tameside Correspondent, a nearby Tesco store was cleared and temporarily shut as a precaution, and the incident was described locally as a hazardous materials fire. The same report identified the affected premises as a sachets manufacturing unit on Wellington Road, where an exclusion zone was established while the response was under way.
Separately, a post from Manchester Evening News cited the fire service as saying ten fire engines and additional resources had been sent to the scene, reflecting the scale of the response. Local coverage from the Mirror added that nearby residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed because of the smoke drifting from the site.
Has this site caused concern before?
This is not the first emergency incident at the Wellington Road site. In July 2025, firefighters in hazmat suits were called to the same location to contain a chemical leak, an episode that was later resolved without further risk to the public, according to Yahoo News. The same report noted that all workers at the business were accounted for and that no injuries were recorded during that earlier chemical-leak response.
Elsewhere in the country, industrial fires have prompted similar evacuations in recent weeks. Firefighters have separately been dealing with a large blaze at an industrial building in Essex, while around 60 firefighters recently tackled a major fire that forced evacuations near Stourbridge Golf Course.
What happens next?
Fire crews remained at the Greenfield scene with the exclusion zone still in force as emergency services continued their response, according to the Tameside Correspondent. Further updates are expected as the fire is brought fully under control and evacuated residents are permitted to return home.
Key Facts
- Fire reported just after 07:30 BST on 16 August 2026 off Wellington Road, Greenfield, near Oldham.
- 45 homes evacuated on Wellington Road and Knoll Close, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said.
- A nearby Tesco was cleared and temporarily closed as a precaution, local reports said.
- Ten fire engines and additional resources were sent to the scene, according to local coverage.
- The site was the location of a chemical leak in July 2025 that was resolved without injuries.
