A suspected arson attack in the early hours of Thursday morning destroyed two cars on a quiet street in Hollinwood, Oldham, narrowly missing a family with a newborn baby. The blaze broke out on Barmouth Walk just after 3am, with neighbours frantically banging on the door of a nearby home to alert the occupants.
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were woken by the sound of screeching tyres and a smashing noise, followed by a car speeding off. Looking out, they saw a white BMW 3 series engulfed in flames, parked just yards from a property. The fire spread to another car, destroying both.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed the fire was suspected to have been deliberately ignited. Three fire engines from Philips Park, Oldham and Blackley attended the scene at 3.11am, using two breathing apparatus and two hose reels to extinguish the blaze. Crews were on site for around an hour.
The neighbour expressed relief that no one was killed, noting that smoke was billowing into the room of the newborn baby. “This could have easily been a number of fatalities,” they said. Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for further details.
