Investigation after fire at Brindle Mill

An investigation has been launched to discover the cause of a devastating fire which destroyed a historic mill in Brindle.
Fire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRSFire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRS
Fire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRS
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50 firefighters battle blaze at warehouse in Brindle

Fire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne's Row suffered a partial collapse during the blaze which tore through the building yesterday.

One wall and the roof of the former cotton mill were completely destroyed in the incident.

Fire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRSFire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRS
Fire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRS
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Inspections are due to take place today to ascertain the structural safety of the building, which housed a Booths services department.

Four fire engines remain at the scene damping down and ensuring that the fire does not reignite.

Firefighters were called to the scene after a fire ripped through the building, just before 10am on Wednesday, January 31.

Ten fire engines containing more than 50 firefighters, two aerial ladder platforms and a fire service stinger were all called in to help battle the raging fire.

Fire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRSFire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRS
Fire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRS
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Crews brought the fire under control by around 8.30pm and began to scale back resources at around 9.30pm.

Group Manager for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Tim Murrell said: “Initially we had four pumps in attendance at this incident however we increased that once we could see some of the challenges that faced us when it came to tackling the fire.

"Where the building was located meant that there were only two access points we could really use to try and tackle the fire and one of those was adjacent to a residential property.

"This property along with some neighbouring businesses needed to be evacuated as a precaution, which is standard procedure given their proximity to the incident.

Fire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRSFire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRS
Fire services say that Brindle Mill on Bourne Row suffered a partial collapse PIC: LFRS
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"With limited water supply at the site we needed to set up a water relay to tackle the fire. Given the type of building we were dealing with and knowing there was no risk to life we opted to use ground monitors and hose reel jets to tackle the fire rather than committing firefighters into an unstable building.

"The crews worked well together to bring the fire under control and prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring buildings. We reduced the number of fire engines at the scene at around 9:30pm that night and the remaining crews are currently there damping down.”

The mill was founded in 1853 by the Bourne family and in 1891 is reported to have housed 30,000 spindles and 332 looms.

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