Firefighters have been battling a blaze since the early hours at a garage containing highly explosive gas canisters.
Firefighters discovered a car garage completely ablaze in Marsh Green, Wigan, after reports of a fire at around 3.30am.
Around 30 firefighters were called from across Greater Manchester and Lancashire to fight the flames throughout the night.
The firefighters scrambled to stop the flames from spreading to a petrol station just behind the garage in Scot Lane.
Firefighters are still at the scene and the road remains cordoned off as investigations into the cause of the fire take place.
The garage neighbours a residential home and Head 2 Head hair salon, at the junction of Marsh Green and Scot Lane.
The investigation and clean up is expected to carry on well into the afternoon.
Residents in Marsh Green awoke early Wednesday morning to see plumes of smoke ‘billowing’ from their street and blue lights lining the area.
Aubrey Fairclough, who has lived in his home at the end of Marsh Green since 1964, said: “We saw smoke just billowing up and you could see the blue lights.
“The smoke was all over the place.”
As they fought the blaze, firefighters found a number of 'highly explosive’ oxygen cylinders inside the garage, threatening to cause serious damage to the residential street.
Hindley Fire Station watch manager Mark Anderson was among the first on the scene.
He said: “They were cylinders used in the welding process but they are highly explosive.”
Station manager Bridge of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service headquarters said: “These cylinders have been cooled on site using thermal imaging cameras and the risk to the public has now been removed.
“All of the crews worked really hard. We managed to extinguish the fire fairly quickly.”
Firefighters are carrying out investigations alongside Greater Manchester Police and Electricity North West.
