Oldham fire declared major incident
Fire crews are trying to bring the blaze at the old paper mill under control
Around 80 firefighters are tackling a huge blaze at an old paper mill in Oldham.
It broke out just after 4am at the four-storey Maple Mill on Cardwell Street.
Around 100 homes have been evacuated and Oldham Council has opened a rest centre for residents affected at the Honeywell Centre in Hadfield Crescent.
Around 80 firefighters and officers are at the scene tackling the fire which involves a four-storey industrial building.
Parts of the structure have collapsed and the whole building is engulfed by the fire.
Firefighters are attacking the fire with jets, pumping water from nearby open water sources and are attacking the fire from the outside of the building.
Area Manager Warren Pickstone said: “Crews are working incredibly hard to tackle this fire, when we arrived we were met with a serious fire on the top floor of the mill.
“We are working hard with our colleagues at the police to protect surrounding properties, about 100 properties in the immediate area have been evacuated.
“Tyres are also involved in the fire so it’s emitting a thick acrid smoke, we are asking nearby residents to please keep their windows and doors closed as the smoke plume travels across Oldham.”
United Utilities are pumping more water to the scene which is affecting water pressure across Oldham.