Residents in Oldham have reacted to a “shocking” blaze that saw multiple fire crews and police on scene and a road fully blocked off this morning.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) were called to a derelict unit on Linney Lane in Shaw just after 4.15am on Thursday, after three separate fires took hold at a derelict industrial site. Firefighters were tackling the blaze for around seven hours.
Fire services on the scene confirmed that asbestos was present in the sheeting in the roof of the building during the blaze. The fires have now been controlled and the asbestos is wet and not believed to be harmful. Nobody is believed to have been injured during the incident.
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People who live or work nearby said it was “covered” in fire engines, with both the road and footpath completely closed off.
“I was shocked to see it,” one woman who works in a local animal feed store told the Manchester Evening News.
Another resident said she was surprised to see the emergency vehicles on the street while walking her dog this morning.
“When you see the police where you live you know something is wrong,” she said.
Residents and fire crews said the building had been empty for years, with the owner dying several years previously.
“It’s very sad,” Pat, who lives locally and walks her dog on Linney Lane, said. “It is a shame. It used to be one of the best engineering firms in the area.”
Mechanics at Linney Lane Motors, who are based just opposite the scene, said there were several fire engines in attendance when they arrived at work at around 8am this morning.
Police arrived at the scene at approximately 11:20am in order to secure the building. All services have now left the scene, with the fires under control.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 4:15am this morning (Thursday 21 April) we were called to reports of a fire at a derelict industrial building on Linney Lane, Shaw.
“Four fire engines from Oldham, Chadderton, and Rochdale fire stations were quickly in attendance, supported by an aerial platform from Manchester Central. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus worked hard to tackle the blaze in the two-storey building, extinguishing the flames in sectors using three hose reels and a jet.
“Crews stayed at the scene throughout the morning to damp down remaining hotspots and ensure the safety of the area, and were in attendance for around seven hours.”
