Frank Burton’s family watched this morning (Friday) as fire crews investigated damage to the Brownley Road property following the crash Thursday night. Mr Burton was found tragically dead. Police said there were reports of a “gas explosion”. Specific details have not yet been confirmed. Speaking to Manchester Evening News from the scene, Frank’s brother, Philip, said he thought he could buy a device to “help with the cold in anticipation of rising energy bills”.
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A device may have been on and could have exploded Manchester Evening News understands, although this has not been confirmed by officials.
Firefighters remain at the scene and are conducting investigations.
Paying tribute to his brother, Philip, 71, said: “He was a good character and a good guy.”
The scene at Brownley Road (Image: Manchester Evening News)
Frank was a widow, having lost his wife Brenda a decade ago, his brother said.
He added: “Frank was in the car industry, he used to do body work and he was very capable and respected. He was the father of two children.
“This is a guy who, while working, flew in a hot air balloon over the Grand Canyon. He was a casual visitor to Las Vegas. I could not get to Frank for quite some time, he was deaf. He was deaf because he got out of bed during “War during the Blitz in Manchester”.
Philip added: “The explosion is typical of natural gas. Whether it is natural gas or if it had something to do with the cold and in anticipation of the increase in energy, it could have bought something.”
Emergency services at the scene Thursday night (Image: Manchester Evening News)
The house remains cordoned off this morning as gas workers, firefighters and police remain at the scene. All three windows at the front of the house have been broken, as well as the front door. Parts of the house appear to have been charred by the smoke.
The blockade has been reduced since last night, when many houses on the street were evacuated as smoke was coming out of the house. Eyewitnesses said they heard a “huge” bang that “shook their homes like an earthquake” as the house exploded.
The Manchester Evening News understands that an important incident had been reported, but that it was withdrawn after a while.
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