Fire rages through former asbestos site

Fire at the former Turners Brothers factory

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Firefighters currently remain at the scene after a fire raged through the former Turner Brothers site last night (Thursday 30 January).

Around 35 firefighters tackled the flames after being called to the scene on Rooley Moor Road at 11.10pm last night.

It is understood that six fire engines and a specialist aerial unit from stations in Rochdale, Heywood, Littleborough, Oldham and Chadderton were deployed to the scene which was once the world’s largest asbestos factory.

Currently three engines remain on scene.

The aerial appliance is being used to get water onto the building from above with further resources positioned to get water onto the building from ground level.

Station Manager Pete Lamb, who is at the incident, said: “The fire is surrounded, it’s contained but we needed to wait until daylight until it is safe enough for crews to get closer to the fire and get jets on it to fully extinguish it.

“We are working with various partner agencies including the council and the Environment Agency to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

“In the meantime we would advise residents in the area to continue to keep their windows and doors shut just as a precaution.”

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council said: “Council officers have been on the ground since the early hours of the morning. Safety is our number one priority and we are working with our partners in the emergency services and other agencies including Public Health England.

“Residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed and keep away from the area. This will have minimised any exposure to the plume and we do not anticipate any health effects to occur as a result of this fire. Reassurance air sampling has been mobilised and the fire has been contained. We will be providing an update later in the day.”

It is understood that local residents have recently reported repeated trespassers on the site as well as a number of acts of criminal damage over the past few months.