O2 Confirms Mast Fire on Busy Middleton Road

Middleton, Greater Manchester – November 6th, 2025 – O2 has confirmed that a phone mast which burst into flames this morning on a busy Greater Manchester road was part of their network. The incident led to significant traffic disruption in Middleton as emergency services worked to bring the blaze under control.

The fire broke out on a phone mast located on Manchester Old Road, opposite a row of shops, prompting a swift response from the fire service. Three fire engines, dispatched from Broughton, Chadderton, and Heywood fire stations, were called to the scene. Firefighters swiftly established a cordon around the area to ensure public safety and managed the road closure.

Greater Manchester Police were also present, assisting with traffic management as Manchester Old Road was closed in both directions, leading to a considerable build-up of traffic during the morning commute.

While the fire was being tackled, engineers from Cadent Gas were also alerted due to a reported smell of gas in the vicinity. However, Cadent later confirmed that a gas leak was discovered on a pipe located on the opposite side of the road and was entirely unconnected to the phone mast fire.

An O2 spokesperson stated, "Following a fire earlier today, one of our masts in the Middleton area is currently out of service. We’re working with the emergency services as they carry out their initial investigations".

One fire engine remained at the scene for a period as crews worked alongside partner agencies to ensure the incident was safely concluded. The road has since been reopened, though the disruption caused by the fire and subsequent closures was felt throughout the morning. The cause of the phone mast fire has been under investigation.