Coronation Street blaze scene leads to locals calling fire brigade

Fire on The Street is pure drama.

A Coronation Street storyline involving a fire looked so realistic that concerned locals thought the soap’s set was going up in flames.

The ITV soap was filming the major storyline on Tuesday night, when people nearby called the local fire brigade.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) clarified the situation with a message on its Twitter feed after sending out three fire engines to the scene.

“The Coronation Street set IS NOT on fire!” it said.

“People have reported hearing an explosion and seeing flames but it was part of special effects.”

The stunt is the biggest so far to have been filmed at Corrie’s new MediaCityUK set, where the soap moved last year following decades at its previous base on Quay Street in central Manchester.

Scenes from the storyline, which feature a blaze at Victoria Court flats, are being kept under wraps and will be broadcast in May.

Corrie’s last big fire storyline featured the famous Rovers Return going up in flames in 2013.

A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) spokesman said: “At 9.25pm on Tuesday April 14 2015, we received reports of an explosion and a fireball seen on the set of Coronation Street on Warren Bruce Road in Trafford Park.

“Three fire engines and an officer were sent to the scene but fortunately it turned out to be a false alarm – the explosion was caused by special effects.”

It is thought the fire brigade had been told in advance about the mock blaze.