Fears grow people may have burned to death in Oldham paper mill blaze which forced evacuation from d

EMERGENCY services fear there may have been people sleeping inside the Maple Mill when it was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Thursday morning. 

Almost 100 homes were evacuated as 70 firefighters tackled the huge blaze at the former paper mill in Oldham for over 12 hours.

Speaking on behalf of Greater Manchester Fire Service, Tony Hunter said: "There is a small chance that people may have been sleeping inside this building when the fire started, but the fire has been too intense for crew to search the property safely."

Locals also told crews the building has been used recently by rough sleepers.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service battled the fire for more than 12 hours, and were still advising those in the area to keep doors and windows closed on Thursday morning.

Firefighters, who were called shortly after 4am, attacked the blaze from the outside as it was too dangerous for them to enter.

Videos taken on Thursday morning showed plumes of smoke and large flames rising from the structure.

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Witness Stephen Rogerson, 24, told the Manchester Evening News on Thursday: “I could see thick black smoke and orange flames. There were two or three loud bangs.”

A second witness told the paper: "Can’t even start to describe the scene here. Ash and embers everywhere, thick black smoke, raging heat."

Parts of the mill collapsed as the fire continued to burn through the building, forcing firefighters to pull back in some areas for their safety.

Residents reported that streets surrounding the former mill were covered in ash.

A cordon was erected and roads were closed as firefighters warned about the risk of further collapses.

A refuge centre was set up by Oldham Council to support locals evacuated from their homes.

The mill is the former headquarters of kitchen boss Vance Miller.

A spokesman for Manchester Fire Service gave the following advice on Thursday morning: "Residents in areas affected by the smoke should stay indoors, keep their doors and windows closed, and tune in to the local radio station for advice and information.

"Motorists who have to travel through the smoke should keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep their air vents closed."

It is understood this is the second recent blaze to break out at the mill, with the five-storey site also reportedly suffering major damage in late September.

Last night 50 firefighters were tackling a large blaze at a motorway service station in Hampshire.

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