MORE than 40 firefighters last night tackled a raging inferno at an old mill building in Blackburn centre.

Flames reaching 70ft ripped through the roof of the burning building in Birley Street shortly after 6.30pm yesterday.

Police officers set up a 200m cordon around the 50ft tall building last night before expanding it to 500m as fears grew about the number of combustible items inside.

The building - formerly known as the Manner Sutton Street boiler works and foundry - situated behind Alkron Properties is thought to be a tyre recycling business.

The police helicopter was called out this morning to help investigate the fire.

The helicopter flew over the scene to help identify hotspots after the fire had been contained and put out.

Simon Fryer, head of service development for East Lancashire, said: “It’s too early to say what caused the fire.

“Investigations are ongoing with other partners including the police and Blackburn With Darwen Council to help work out what happened.”


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Lancashire Telegraph:

Firefighters say there is serious concerns about the integrity of the building which caught fire around 6.30pm last night.

Dozens of people looked on as soot and ash spread through the evening air.
Larger chunks of burning debris was also seen falling into the alleyway next to the building and fire officers said the end all was in danger of collapsing.

One shocked onlooker Nadeem Akhtar, 46, said: “It’s really dramatic, I’ve never seen anthing like this before.

Lancashire Telegraph:

“I live on the estate. My brother told me on the phone he rang me and said there was a factory on fire. I was just finishing work so I came down.”

Fire crews spent the first few hours trying to prevent the fire spreading further by hosing down neighbouring premises.

Workers at nearby businesses and residents at sheltered housing accommodation Bowman Court in Trinity Street, including a 99-year-old woman were evacuated as a precaution.

Ansar Amin, a partner at Walker Preston Soliciors said: “One officer said it’s Whittakers, another said it was a tyre factory.

“We were evacuated.

“I had some staff at work and they called me and others sent me videos and pictures.”

Glynis Scott, the manager of Bowman Court, was organising the evacuation of 38 residents who were stood in the lounge with coats on ready to go.

She said: “We have only got two that really need help from the ambulance service.

“We just heard banging and crackling, we thought it was fireworks and one of the residents nearby came to the door and we saw it was up in flames.

“They are finding us somewhere to stay and getting coaches for us.

“Our oldest resident is 99.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

The surrounding roads were closed by police at Clever Street to the Barabara Castle Way roundabout and the police helicopter was also seen in the sky.

A mobile CCTV unit was also at the scene and senior firefighters were running the operation from a mobile fire station parked in Birley Street.

Justin Johnson, deputy chief fire officer said: “We were called at 6.34pm and sent eight fire engines and requested two aerial platforms.

“We have a warehouse that has been used to store tyres a blaze.

“As tyres start burning they are very difficult to put out and they give out a thick acrid smoke which has draw quite a bit of attention.

“We have asked local people if the smoke is blowing in their diretion to close thier windows.

“We are surrounding the fire.

“The building affected is lost. The fire was very developed when fire crews were called.

“The strike has not affected us apart from getting aerial ladder platforms.

The fire was into the roof areas and firefighters were forced to cut their way into neighbouring Alkron Properties to examine the extent of any damage inside.

 

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