Plan to demolish burning building to tackle fire

A large storage building which has been burning for three days will have to demolished in stages so firefighters can put out the blaze.

The fire at the Storage World building on Old Hall Street in Middleton, Rochdale, broke out at around 17:00 BST on Wednesday.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said four fire engines were still tackling the fire.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Barry Moore said: "The decision has now been taken alongside the building owners and partner agencies to gradually demolish the building so firefighters can safely access and extinguish the fire and bring this incident to a safe conclusion."

He said crews "have been working incredibly hard for long hours in tough conditions to contain this complex fire and reduce any risk to the public".

"Due to the nature of the building, and the danger posed by its contents and structure, firefighters have been tackling the fire externally to mitigate any risk to life," he added.

He said the fire service wanted to express its sympathies to anyone who had lost valuables to the blaze.

A GMFRS spokesperson said people had been advised to avoid the area with road closures still in place and residents asked to keep windows and doors closed if nearby.

"We will continue to work alongside Rochdale Council and partner agencies to support local residents and businesses affected," they added.

About 45 firefighters have been tackling the blaze, with many wearing gas marks.

There are no reports of any injuries.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.