I’m devastated ... 20 years of work has gone up in smoke, quite literally
CARPET WAREHOUSE BOSS’S AGONY OVER BLAZE
THE owner of a carpet warehouse destroyed by a huge fire has described his horror after watching the business go up in flames.
Firefighters have been tackling the blaze on Darnley Street, Old Trafford, since the early hours of yesterday.
The fire involves several commercial units and people living in the vicinity have been evacuated from their homes as a precaution.
Dave Todd, owner of Dave’s Carpet Warehouse, one of the businesses based in the warehouse, told the M.E.N. of his devastation.
He said: “I got a phone call 5am. An employee who is a key holder saying the alarm had gone off and he had come to investigate and saw the fire.
“I’m absolutely devastated as you can imagine, we’ve been in this area 20 years and it’s all gone up in smoke quite literally.
“I don’t know where we will go from here, I’m waiting for police and fire to update me. I’ve not heard anything yet.
“Just looking at the damage, I’m absolutely gutted. We’ve put so much into the business.”
He added: “It’s a fantastic community, and we would like to stay around here. Earlier a lady from one of the flats was bringing out hot drinks and biscuits. Thankfully no one has been hurt.”
Dave said there are four full time employees working at the warehouse.
Ten fire pumps were called to the fire at shortly before 5am this morning.
The fire measures around 30m x 30m and a cordon has been put in place around the building.
A woman who lives on Darnley Street told the M.E.N: “I heard loud bang noises around 5am, I thought at first it may have been a delivery at Tesco.
“Then I heard other engines so I came downstairs and a neighbour came knocking to wake us up, shouting there was a fire. I opened the door and the heat from the flames hit my face, I’ve never known anything like it. It was so intense.
“I went back to get everyone up, I knew we had to get out. We grabbed our ‘go bag’ we always have ready and went out through the back for safety. Then we saw a fireman and he told us to get away.
“The fire was absolutely raging. My neighbour said she could feel the heat on her windows. I reckon everything has gone.”
Deene Brown who lives opposite, has been offering hot chocolate and biscuits to those have been evacuated.
She said: “You have to come together and help each other at times like these.”
Kings Road, at the junction with Upper Chorlton Road, has been closed.
The junction of Upper Chorlton Road with Moss Lane West is also shut.
An evacuation centre for people who have been forced to leave their homes has been set up at the Limelight Centre on nearby Shrewsbury Street.