Generator blamed for mill inferno

No further action to be taken

AN inferno which destroyed Maple Mill has been blamed on an accidental fault with a generator.

The massive blaze on April 24, last year, saw 100 firefighters tackling 60ft flames that shot high above Vance Miller’s controversial Rock Solid Kitchen firm in Cardwell Street, Hathershaw.

Around 130 staff and 28 houses were evacuated and the fire continued to burn for weeks afterwards leaving residents furious at the disruption and health implications.

Several houses remained cordoned off for weeks and neighbours complained of breathing problems as smoke continued to drift.

It was known that the fire started around a diesel generator before spreading to wooden pallets and causing gas cylinders to explode, destroying six-storey Maple Mill No 2, used for production.

Mr Miller was able to keep his business running by using neighbouring Maple Mill No1.

The generator was impounded and investigations into the exact cause and practices at the mill launched.

Several public meetings were held during the aftermath with council, health, police and fire chiefs updating and attempting to placate furious residents, who blamed Mr Miller for the fire that put their homes at risk.

Fed-up with disruption from working practices at the mill, they called for it to be closed and said they feared a repeat as a diesel generator was also being used to power Maple Mill No 1.

Inquiries by the Chronicle have shown that little more was uncovered about the fire.

A fire service spokesman said: “The conclusion of the investigation was that the fire started in the rear yard and was the result of an accidental fault with a generator.

“It was put down to that and the investigation is finished as far as we are aware. The generator was supplying power but the fault was unknown.

“It could be maintenance, fuels or all sorts of things that could have been the source.”

No further investigations were undertaken by either the Health and Safety Executive or Oldham Council’s Health and Safety department.

As no crime had been committed, it was not passed on to the police either, and, as Mr Miller did not have insurance, there was no involvement by insurance companies.

Mr Miller had criticised firefighters for letting the mill to burn down, but fire chiefs said that once it was confirmed that everyone was safe they withdrew for their own safety due to information received about conditions within the mill, such as holes in the floors, flammable stock and defective fixed fire-fighting equipment.

After the blaze, Mr Miller sent a letter to residents saying how distressed he was by the fire and apologising for any distress or inconvenience it caused them.

He said there were “no dodgy practices”, the generators were not illegal and he wanted to rebuild the site.