MANCHESTER, January 11, 2006  –  A gay men’s sauna was gutted in a major fire in Fourways House, city centre, last night.

The fire broke out at the Basement Health Club just after midnight and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service sent “14 pumps and about 70 firefighters” to the blaze.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said that around 40 people were evacuated from the building, which is in the basement of a building containing residential flats.

While it is not clear how many men were in the sauna at the time, she said that firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, had to search the sauna after one was reportedly missing.

One man suffered smoke inhalation and a firefighter suffered burns on a hand.  Otherwise, there were no injuries, the spokeswoman said.

Greater Manchester Police and fire officers are investigating possible arson.  A police statement is expected later this afternoon.