Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said crews were called to the Pioneer Mill fire on Milltown Street at around 7.15pm, initially deploying eight fire engines and three specialist appliances from across Greater Manchester.
Crews arrived quickly and used jets and turntable ladders to tackle the fire, while residents nearby were urged to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed due to a large plume of smoke.
Large plumes of smoke were drifting towards Radcliffe town centre (Image: Phil Taylor)
Pictures from the scene showed thick black smoke rising from the derelict building, with multiple fire engines in attendance as crews worked to bring the blaze under control.
Greater Manchester Police also attended and blocked access to the street.
One officer at the scene said: “We have blocked access points as there could be a potential risk of asbestos.”
An eyewitness said the area around Milltown Street had been completely sealed off, adding: “It is not possible to see the fire from where the police cordon is.”
(Image: Phil Taylor)
They added that four ambulances and two rapid response units were on standby, while a technical rescue unit and a fire truck later left the scene.
Another witness said the fire appeared to be “on its way down” by around 9.20pm and was “not as big as the previous Pioneer Mill fire,” although they reported hearing small explosions, possibly caused by aerosols inside the building.
(Image: Phil Taylor)
Councillor Ken Simpson, of Radcliffe First, who had been at the scene since around 7.30pm, said there had been long-standing concerns about the building.
He said: “There has been a fire at Pioneer Mill before, but the fire service haven’t released a report on this incident yet.
“There have been major concerns about the building for some time, including breaches of fire regulations. After the previous fire, prohibition notices were issued by Bury Council and the fire service.
“All stock is still inside, and a number of small businesses operate from the structure.
“From what I can see around 10 to 12 tenants have been affected and are unable to access their units due to the prohibition notice.
“They were hoping the fire service would allow access, but unfortunately that hasn’t happened.
“I’ve spoken to a few tenants this evening, people are really scared about the impact on their businesses.
“Many are small operations, some already affected by a previous fire, and a number are uninsured. It’s going to be very difficult for those affected.
“The smell of fumes is quite strong, and smoke is drifting into the town centre, staying low to the ground. It’s been windy all day, but that’s dropped off now, so it’s hanging about.
“There are approximately 14 fire engines here, along with two aerial platforms and numerous generators.
(Image: Phil Taylor)
“The building itself has no power or water supply, so crews are generating their own power and pumping water in.
“The pressure doesn’t seem very strong, and they’re using multiple pumps. From where I am, I can’t see visible flames now, but I’m some distance away.
“My main concern is for the small businesses affected, particularly given ongoing fire safety issues at the site.
“In my view, the building should be closed. This appears to be a long-term issue with a lack of maintenance and oversight by the landlord, with problems going back decades.
“There have been inspections since the last fire, but clearly this incident has still caught everyone out.”
At the height of the incident, witnesses estimated that up to 14 fire engines, two aerial platforms and numerous support units were in attendance.
By around 10.25pm, witnesses said the fire and smoke had significantly reduced, although some GMFRS crews and police remained at the scene.
(Image: Phil Taylor)
The latest incident follows a major blaze at the Pioneer Mill site in September, which caused significant damage and left a firefighter seriously injured and in hospital after a wall collapsed on them.
The cause of Tuesday night’s fire has not yet been confirmed, and crews remain in attendance to monitor the scene.
Residents are continuing to be advised to avoid the area while emergency services carry out their work.
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