Police investigation launched after man in 70s killed in Manchester house fire

Bill Bowkett
Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:45:15 +0000

An investigation has been launched after a man in his 70s was killed in a house fire.

Firefighters were called to Cranwell Drive in the Burnage area of Manchester at 4.40pm.

They were on scene for nearly three hours, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said the pensioner, who was in the building at the time of the blaze, was pronounced dead at the scene.

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In a statement, the force said: "Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this incident."

Cranwell Drive was taped off by authorities, with more officers stationed in the garden of a property.

Crews from Withington, Whitehill and Stockport also attended the area.

One neighbour told the Manchester Evening News: “I was going to go to Tesco, and I couldn’t get out.

“It was all blocked off with emergency services.

"There were three fire engines, police cars, and quite a few other vehicles.

“I didn’t hear the fire when it was happening.

"I didn’t smell anything... The dog didn’t even bark.

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“And the by the time I came out, about half five, I think it was out.

"There was a lady stood on the street who was crying and a police officer asked if we could give her some space. She was very distressed."

Another neighbour commented: “We heard there had been an accident.

"I heard the fire service arriving and saw all the police cars.”

A third responded: “There was three fire engines, a lot of police, a lot of paramedics.

"The circumstances of what happened, I’ve no idea.

"The police aren’t telling us anything.”

Paying tribute to the victim in his 70s, a woman stated: “It’s so sad... He was a nice man.”

GMP said after the blaze: "Officers responded to reports of a fire at a property on Cranwell Drive, Burnage, at around 4.45 pm today.

"Emergency services attended and sadly a man aged in his 70s was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this incident."