Explosion scare at fire-plagued mill

Skip on fire at Maple Mill, Fitton Hill.

A fire started in a container full of cigarette lighters at the beleaguered Maple Mill, sparking fears of an explosion.

A spark caused by a mechanical digger coming into contact with the container at the Dowry Street site was enough to cause the blaze.

Fire-fighters from Oldham and Hollins were at the scene for an hour tackling the fire, although initially they let it burn down because of the risk of the lighters exploding.

Watch manager Andrew Turner, from Hollins fire station, said: “There was a lot of black smoke that could be seen from quite a distance away because it was burning plastic and cigarette lighter gas that had spilled all over the yard.

“We moved a few things out of the way and prepared the water while we let the fire burn down a bit as this was safer for the crews due to the risk of the lighters exploding.

“Once it died down we got the digger to rake it out then got the hose on.”

The Hathershaw site — a former cotton spinning mill owned by businessman Vance Miller —- has been blighted by several fires over the years, including some suspected to be deliberate.
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