Borough struck by another mill fire

Heywood is the latest part of the town to fall victim to a mill fire, following numerous similar incidents over the summer months. There are severe traffic disruptions in Heywood this morning, Friday 17 August and the fire service have been busy in the area as first the mill on Rose Hill Street was ablaze and then a section of Bamford Road, at its junction with Claybank, collapsed and the road flooded.

Fire crews are still on the scene at both locations and motorists are being warned of potential heavy traffic in Heywood.

Police and fire crews have been present after the mill fire was reported at 6.35 this morning.

Rose Hill Street is closed from the junction with Bury Street to Crown Road. Moor Street is closed at the junction of Bury Street, and High Street is closed at the junction of Bury Street.

At the weekend the former Howard Mill Carpets building on St Mary's Gate went up in flames. Other mill fires that have occurred this summer include large scale blazes at Dane Mill on Bridgefield Street and the fire which caused the destruction of the Alexander Drew Mill on Mellor Street.

Seemingly the whole of the borough has been struck by this spate of mill fires.

There have been numerous fires at the Coral Mill on Shaw Road in Newhey, all of which were deliberately started. Following these incidents Rochdale Fire Station Commander Dave Astley warned that it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt or even killed but his words have not prevented numerous other fires since then.

Borough Commander Astley issued a similar warning last week after 25 firefighters were forced to deal with a blaze at a row of houses in Wardleworth, earmarked for demolition, that had been caused by arsonists.