Mill gutted by blaze

Reporter: Kirsty Rigg
Date online: 04/07/2009

A blanket of smoke covered part of Heywood last night (Friday 3 July) as a huge blaze ripped through Heywood Mill.

Over 30 fire fighters from across the region worked through the night to tackle the flames, which have completely guttedVictory Mill on Rose Hill Street, and they are still on site as Rochdale Online News reports this morning (11.30am).

Witnesses from as far as Bamford reported a trail of smoke coming from the blaze, which is believed to be accidental, though this has not yet been confirmed.

Laurence Cook, from Bury Road, said: “I was about to go out for a drink and saw an awful lot of smoke pouring over from the Heywood direction.

“I was very curious so I decided to follow it in the car, when I got there I could see this enormous fire, and fire fighters everywhere, I think at least six fire engines were there.”

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews are all still out at the moment, they have been there the whole night.

“The fire is under control but there is still work being done on site."