Sixty fire fighters tackle mill blaze

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 14 June 2007

At about 3am in the early hours of this morning (Thursday 14 June) police were called to Bridgefold Road in Spotland to assist Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service at a large fire at the Alexander Drew Mill on Mellor Street. Rochdale Online reporter Jan Harwood was quickly on the scene to take the dramatic photos accompanying this article.

Sixty fire fighters and ten fire fighting appliances, including, at one stage, two hydraulic platforms, were at the scene and Spotland Bridge was swarming with police officers as firefighters pumped water up Bridgefold Road.

The fire appears to have destroyed at least one of the mill buildings with part of the roof having collapsed.

Officers at the scene advised local residents to close all windows and doors due to thick smoke. It is believed there have been no casualties and no houses have been evacuated.

Mellor Street is closed at its junction with Bury Road and at its junction at Spotland Bridge. Drivers are asked to find alternative routes where possible.

Inquiries are continuing to establish the cause of the blaze.

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UPDATE

Mellor Street has now re-opened following this morning's mill fire.