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| Oldham Maple Mill fire: Homes evacuated as crews fight 'major' blaze | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes as 80 firefighters tackle a huge fire at a former cotton mill in Oldham. | Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes as 80 firefighters tackle a huge fire at a former cotton mill in Oldham. |
| A total of 100 homes were cleared when the fire broke out after 04:15 GMT with 10 fire engines called to the scene. | A total of 100 homes were cleared when the fire broke out after 04:15 GMT with 10 fire engines called to the scene. |
| Fire crews later had to withdraw as part of the Cardwell Street building collapsed in the intense heat. | Fire crews later had to withdraw as part of the Cardwell Street building collapsed in the intense heat. |
| It took crews nearly seven hours to get the blaze under control with the heat being felt 1,600ft (500m) away. | It took crews nearly seven hours to get the blaze under control with the heat being felt 1,600ft (500m) away. |
| Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said it managed to stop the flames causing electricity blackouts to 2,500 homes and averted gas explosions. | |
| Gas, propane and oxygen cylinders were covered with water to prevent them exploding and an electricity sub-station was found in the mill's courtyard. | Gas, propane and oxygen cylinders were covered with water to prevent them exploding and an electricity sub-station was found in the mill's courtyard. |
| Area manager Warren Pickstone said: "If that would've gone down, approximately 2,500 properties would have lost their electricity. | Area manager Warren Pickstone said: "If that would've gone down, approximately 2,500 properties would have lost their electricity. |
| "We made sure that we kept that at bay." | "We made sure that we kept that at bay." |
| The BBC has learnt the former textile mill is owned by kitchen businessman Vance Miller, who was the subject of a failed Trading Standards prosecution in 2010. | The BBC has learnt the former textile mill is owned by kitchen businessman Vance Miller, who was the subject of a failed Trading Standards prosecution in 2010. |
| The site has suffered from previous fires: in 2009 nearby homes had to be evacuated when an explosion led to a fire and there was another blaze at the building three months ago. | |
| GMFRS confirmed it would now be investigating the latest incident which it confirmed broke out on the top floor of the mill. | |
| Read more about this story in our local live section | Read more about this story in our local live section |
| The fire service had declared the blaze as a "major incident". | The fire service had declared the blaze as a "major incident". |
| Witnesses saw flames leap up to 200ft (60m) and said the front of the building had collapsed. | Witnesses saw flames leap up to 200ft (60m) and said the front of the building had collapsed. |
| There are not thought to be any casualties but local residents have been advised to keep their doors and windows closed. | There are not thought to be any casualties but local residents have been advised to keep their doors and windows closed. |
| An emergency "rest centre" has been set up by Oldham Council in the nearby Honeywell Centre for those residents evacuated from their homes. | |
| Eyewitness Sarah Jones told the BBC: "I was woken by two loud bangs that I thought were gunshots but they were explosions." | Eyewitness Sarah Jones told the BBC: "I was woken by two loud bangs that I thought were gunshots but they were explosions." |