Huge blaze at mill leaves cars crushed
HOMES EVACUATED AS FIRE COLLAPSES BUILDING USED TO STORE CANDLES
DRAMATIC images show the aftermath of a huge mill fire which left cars crushed and rubble spilling into the road.
More than 50 firefighters were called to the site, where candles and vehicles were being stored, on Greenfield Lane in Rochdale, late on Monday night.
Huge clouds of billowing smoke were seen rising high into the air and flames tore through the building.
Between 20 and 30 nearby homes were evacuated. Residents were allowed back into their properties by 1am. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Four fire engines and a hydraulic platform remained at the scene of the blaze yesterday morning.
The operation was scaled down, but crews continued to damp down pockets of heat still burning.
Firefighters on an aerial platform were seen dousing the flames.
The roof of the building has collapsed and fire crews are arranging for it to be bulldozed.
Images taken from the scene show hundreds of oil diffusers, bricks and other debris spilling out of the building. Clouds of smoke were still coming from the mill yesterday. Residents were being told to keep windows and doors shut.
Queensway was shut in both directions during the incident but was fully reopened at around 1.30pm yesterday.
The fire officer in charge, station manager Nick Hince, said as the incident was being scaled down: “Crews have made great progress and we have scaled back the incident overnight.
“Seats of fire remain in the building and will be difficult to reach until the building has been demolished.
“Smoke in the area has been reduced and is currently blowing away from local residents but the safety advice remains the same – please keep your windows and doors closed if you live locally.
“One side of Queensway has reopened but the other side remains closed so please avoid the area if you can.
“We are working hard to extinguish the fire completely so please bear with us as we do so.”
An investigation into the cause of the blaze will begin once the fire is fully out and the area has been deemed safe.