Firefighters called to mill fire in Rochdale, UK, with many told to evacuate
UK firefighters were forced into battling a notably large fire at a derelict mill in Rochdale, which had partially collapsed as a direct result of the fire.
12 properties had to be evacuated after the Proofings Mill in Littleborough caught fire, according to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS).
Fire crews were called to the mill, located on Hare Hill Road, at 16:30 on the 24th March, and remained there all night to take on the flames, which were still burning by daybreak.
David Roach from GMFRS said that crews were “struggling to reach” pockets of fire.
“Due to the instability of the building, we are unable to enter and are fighting the fire from outside of the mill,” he said.
At the time, Roach instructed people to stay clear of the area and to keep their windows and doors closed as “the incident is still ongoing” and “there is still light smoke coming from the fire”.
Soon after, residents were allowed back into their homes, though a presence was kept by firefighters in the immediate aftermath.