Blaze rips through mill

Last updated 16:31, Thursday, 06 November 2008

POLICE were today warning people to stay away from an old Barrow mill following a blaze.

POLICE are today warning people to stay away from an old Barrow mill following a blaze.
Police and four fire engines rushed to the scene at Salthouse Mills just after 3pm yesterday to find one of the derelict buildings on the site well alight.
Smoke billowed through the roof of the structure, but firefighters quickly brought the situation under control.
A number of fire officers used breathing apparatus and a hose reel to tackle the blaze.
An aerial ladder platform was then used to dampen down the roof space.
The fire was extinguished by 4pm and crews made it back to their base in Barrow an hour later.
But police are still warning people to avoid the area as the building is hazardous and contains asbestos.
Detective Sergeant Chris Bethell of Barrow police said: “It was a small fire. It was burning rubber which was giving off black smoke. The building is hazardous because of the asbestos which is still present.
“We don’t know if it was deliberate but there will be an investigation. We are appealing for people to stay away from the area. We’re also
asking parents to be aware of where their children are.”
The derelict site has become something of a problem area with a number of fires already this year.
An exclusion zone was put in place around Salthouse Mills in June after another huge fire ripped through the disused buildings. Firefighters battled through the night to get the fire under control in an operation that took around nine hours and the expertise of 40 firefighters.
In July firefighters were forced to tackle thick, black smoke after a blaze broke out.
There was also the added risk of gas cylinders exploding.