Massive Fire Near Wigan Pier

40 firefighters have dealt with a large fire at a mill in Wigan.

40 firefighters have dealt with a large fire at a mill in Wigan.

40 firefighters have dealt with a large fire at a mill in Wigan.

Crews were called to a number of units at Eckersley Mill, Swan Meadow Road, Poolstock, at 4.09am on Tuesday, July 31, following a number of repeat calls reporting 40-foot high flames coming from the site.

The rest of the mill is ok and other businesses are open as usual.

Six fire engines attended from Wigan, Hindley, Atherton, Leigh and Horwich fire stations, along with an aerial platform, and later crews from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

Station Manager Ben Levy said: "On arrival crews were faced with a large, well-developed fire involving three industrial units at a single storey mill extension.

"Six fire engines and an aerial appliance were mobilised to the scene and crews got to work quickly to prevent the fire spreading, and firefighters successfully managed to stop the fire spreading to an adjoining three-storey mill."

Crews used jets, water monitors and the aerial appliance to bring the fire under control, which took around two hours.

Acetylene cylinders were also discovered on the site so crews had to carry out a two-hour cooling down process.

Swan Meadow Road and Pottery Road were closed for several hours but the roads reopened shortly before 9am.

Station Manager Levy added: "Due to the discovery of acetylene cylinders which had to be cooled down, a cordon was placed around the area and surrounding roads were closed off for the public's safety.

"We worked hard to get the roads reopened as quickly as possible and will continue to work throughout the morning to ensure local businesses can open with as little disruption as possible."

Fire investigators were due to visit the scene on Tuesday morning to try and establish the cause of the fire.

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