A CARELESSLY discarded cigarette butt sparked a huge emergency operation at Bolton train station yesterday evening.
Rush hour commuters were evacuated from the station after smoke could be seen in the building.
Three fire engines were mobilised to the station at 5.30pm.
An area was taped off as firefighters investigated the source of the smoke.
Crews removed tiles from the roof.
They discovered the cigarette had not been stubbed out properly and somehow lodged in a cavity near the roof.
Watch Manager Andy Hardman told The Bolton News: "The cause was a cigarette butt put out in polystyrene at the front of the ticket office.
"We were called at 5.30pm and evacuated the station.
"At first we couldn't find out where it was but then we removed some tiles on the roof and found it.
"After an hour people were allowed back in and trains resumed from there.
"We don't believe it was intentional."
Witnesses said that fire crews took hose pipes into the building, which was busy with commuters trying to get home.
Transport for Greater Manchester warned of delays at the time.
Fire crews urged people to discard cigarettes properly.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel