Fire rips through three mills housing small local businesses

Crews were called to Oxford Street East in Ashton-under-Lyne, at 3pm yesterday.

(Credit: @manchesterfire)

At the height of the blaze around 75 firefighters, with 15 fire engines, from across Greater Manchester were battling the flames from ground level and above.

Three multi-storey buildings containing a number of small local businesses are involved in the fire

The buildings involved have all partially collapsed and are unstable.

(Credit: @manchesterfire

Local residents on Gibson Terrace have been evacuated as a precaution and are being supported by Tameside Council to move to a place of safety.

Firefighters are now damping down the scene and are expected to remain on site for the next few days.

Around 30 firefighters remain on scene and six fire engines plus two aerial platforms are being used to battle the flames.

Local roads have now reopened and electricity has been restored to all surrounding properties with the local authority working to return nearby residents to their homes as soon at it is safe.

(Credit:@manchesterfire)

Paul Etches, Area Manager for GMFRS, said: "Throughout the evening firefighters from 10 fire engines had been making steady progress, but at around 9pm a third building on the site caught fire and that necessitated us calling upon a further five crews from across Greater Manchester.

“Parts of all the buildings affected have collapsed."

Group manager Jason Rain said:“Our firefighters have done an exceptional job tackling this large fire over quite a long period of time."

Public Health England are advising the local population that risks to health from the Ashton incident are low, however because any smoke is an irritant, it can make people’s eyes and throat sore.

People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be particularly susceptible to the smoke and should carry and use their medication (such as inhalers) as usual.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.