Families have been evacuated from their homes in two streets after a huge fire broke out at a neighbouring industrial building.
The blaze, which has shot huge plumes of black and orange smoke into the sky, was spotted at just after 07:30 BST at a site off Wellington Road in Greenfield, near Oldham.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said 45 homes had been evacuated in Wellington Road and Knoll Close, which backs on to the burning building.
A cordon is in place and nearby roads have been shut while crews tackle the fire. People have been asked to avoid the area.