Mill inferno sends flames high into sky
Homes evacuated as 14 crews tackle blaze
THIRTY homes were evacuated as a mill building became engulfed in flames “up to 60 feet high”. A thick, black smoke plume was sent roaring into the sky after the J H Birtwistle Mill on Jubilee Road, Haslingden, caught fire. As many as 14 fire engines rushed to the scene of the devastating blaze, assisted by police, with the fire triggering Operation
Merlin - an emergency services plan which comes into effect during major incidents.
Fire and Rescue Service area manager Mark Hutton praised efforts of all agencies involved in helping to mitigate the impact of the blaze, saying: “As ever in incidents of this scale it’s a real team effort.”
AMAJOR incident was declared and 30 homes evacuated as a mill building became engulfed in flames “up to 60 feet high”.
A thick, black smoke plume was sent roaring into the sky after the J H Birtwistle Mill on Jubilee Road, Haslingden, set alight at around 12.30pm on Thursday, January 7.
As many as 14 fire engines rushed to the scene of the devastating blaze, assisted by police, with the fire triggering Operation Merlin - an emergency services plan which comes into effect during major
incidents.
Around 30 homes were evacuated in the area, with people given temporary accommodation.
Fire crews from Rawtenstall, Great Harwood, Bacup, Darwen and Fulwood, as well as seven fire engines from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, attended the incident, including an aerial ladder platform, high volume pump and stinger appliance.
Firefighters used eight jets and a ground monitor to fight the blaze, as local re sidents were urged t o clo s e their windows.
Drone pictures released by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) showed how the fire had taken hold of the building with the roof completely collapsed.
A spokesperson for LFRS said: “At 12.31pm, fire crews were called to a commercial building on Jubilee Road in Haslingden. On arrival crews found the fire involved a commercial mill building approximately 200m by 90m.
“The fire was well developed and a further 11 fire engines were requested to assist with firefighting operations.
“Firefighters are tackling the fire using eight jets and a ground monitor. Due to the large smoke plume being produced by the fire residents living close by are being advised to close their windows and doors as a precaution.”
After hours of battling the fire, crews managed to gain control of the blaze at around 4.35pm.
No casualties were reported - and the cause of the fire was not thought to be suspicious. Those evacuated were given the go-ahead to return to their homes at around 10.15pm the same day, with the incident deemed no longer “a significant hazard”.
One evacuated resident said: “The police and fire service asked us to evacuate and reassured that during Covid they gave us authority to go stay with family whilst this was dealt with.”
Local councillor Granville Morris was caught up in road closures after spotting a massive plume of smoke while driving.
He said: “I instinctively thought it was either the mill or one of the industrial units on Carrs Industrial Estate.
“The flames were pretty high.
“You can distinctly see the flames from where I am - I don’t know, about 50 or 60 feet [high]. They’ve got it very quickly under control. I was concerned about the residents on Grane Road. I thought the denseness of the smoke might give cause for evacuations.”
Road closures remained in place into Friday. In an update statement on Tuesday, January 12 the LFRS confirmed that the fire was being treated as accidental.
They said: “Parts of the building were in use at the time of the fire and whilst around a fifth of the building was significantly damaged; firefighters worked well to prevent the fire from spreading to the remaining parts, particularly given the scale of the fire and the unfavourable ground conditions.”