Probe launched after fire rips through firms

FIRE damage . . . after the incident

A POLICE probe has been launched after a blaze gutted two businesses in the Hill Stores area of Oldham.

Firefighters were called out at around 12.50am on Saturday after locals reported a blaze on the roof of Chinese restaurant Wokstar, at the junction of Ripponden Road and Huddersfield Road.

A dozen people were treated for smoke inhalation and four were evacuated from the above flats as flames raged through the adjoining Spring Garden Chinese takeaway — and affected three other businesses. Hundreds of slates fell from the roof.

Reg Haye, Chadderton’s fire watch officer, said: “It was a very difficult fire to put out due to the age of the building.

“Because the flames were ripping through a series of flats we had to fight our way in to the ground floor.

“Fortunately there wasn’t many people in the flats above the shops — we got everyone out.”

Huddersfield Road was closed and traffic was diverted through Derker while the fire was dealt with. The road was reopened at 8.15am on Saturday but remained congested throughout the morning.

Crime scene investigators combed the scene while insurance assessors took a look around.

Speaking on Saturday morning, John Michael Salon owner John McKean, was lucky that the fire did not reach his business — only a few doors down.

He was evacuated from his home along with his children.

He said: “They made us stand outside while they dealt with the fire. I asked if I could go back inside after a while as I had nowhere to go.”

A man from the Littlemoor House flats who did not wish to be named said: “I could hear a loud knocking noise — at first I thought it was people stealing lead.

“I could see the flames from my flat — it wasn’t massive but big enough. A lot of people were standing around watching.”

An investigation is under way.