Police believe a house fire which revealed a cannabis farm was started deliberately.
The blaze badly damaged the semi-detached property in Whitefield last week.
And the Manchester Evening News understands some kind of incendiary device - possibly a petrol bomb - is suspected of being used.
Fire crews were called to the home in Woodlands Avenue, off Dales Lane, at 2am on Friday September 24th.
Firefighters brought the flames under control and discovered a number of cannabis plants growing inside.
No one was inside the address at the time, and police say no one was injured in the blaze.
The incident caused people in an adjoining property to be evacuated and they had to spend the night in a hotel.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed detectives are now investigating the fire which is being treated as suspicious.
The fire service used a specially trained fire dog to help pinpoint the location of traces of accelerants in and outside the property.
Pictures from the scene appear to show the interior of the semi-detached house badly damaged as a result of the blaze.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At approximately 2am on Friday, 24 th September, four fire engines from Blackley, Bury, Whitefield and Broughton attended a building fire on Woodlands Avenue, in Whitefield.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used three hose reels, a ladder and a positive pressure ventilation fan to extinguish the fire.
"Fire crews were in attendance for a number of hours.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Just after 2am this morning (24 September 2021), officers were called by colleagues from GMFRS to a report of a fire at an address on Woodlands Avenue in Whitefield.
"The fire is believed to have involved a cannabis farm in the address and was safely extinguished by GMFRS
"Enquiries are on-going and anyone with information can report it online or by using the LiveChat service at www.gmp.police.uk.
"Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
