FIREFIGHTERS from across Oldham and Greater Manchester battled to prevent the fire at a derelict chicken farm in Royton spreading to a couple’s nearby cottage in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday, February 20).
Swift action by crews from Chadderton, Oldham and Hollins stations stopped the blaze in Mill Lane from igniting diesel, propane gas cylinders and other flammable material going up.
A total of nine pumps were in attendance at one point and firefighters will be on site for at least two days damping down the mainly wooden structure of the farm including an asbestos roof, which has been disused for about 18 months.
The electricity supply to homes nearby was also temporarily disconnected as crews dealt with the incident.
Chadderton crew manager Steve Murphy said: “People in Royton must have been wondering why they could smell smoke in the area in the morning. It was because of the large amount of wood the farm was built out of.
“The farm has completely gone and it’s lucky we got there in time to prevent the occupied stone cottage where there was other flammables like LPG and diesel stored from also being affected.”
The cause of the fire is unknown.
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