Fears people may have burned to death in massive mill fire

It is feared that rough sleepers may have burned to death in a massive fire that devastated a mill near Manchester.

The fire at Maple Mill in Oldham has been raging for more than 12 hours and fire chiefs have said there is a chance people may have been sleeping inside.

Around 100 people were evacuated from their homes after the fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday morning with more than 70 firefighters called to the scene.

Although fears of possible deaths have been raised, fire crews have been unable to access the building due to the smoke and flames.

Fire service area manager Tony Hunter told teh Mirror: ‘There is a small chance that people may have been sleeping inside this building when the fire started, but the fire has been too intense for crews to search the property safely.

This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Picture from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service showing firefighters at the scene of a large blaze at a paper mill in Oldham, north-east of Manchester. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday December 15, 2016. About 70 firefighters and 15 vehicles are tackling the fire, See PA story FIRE Oldham. Photo credit should read: Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Some 100 people were evacuated from their homes 

Picture from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service showing firefighters at the scene of a large blaze at a paper mill in Oldham, north-east of Manchester. 

Contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

‘Once the remains of the building have been made safe, we will be in the position to investigate further.’

More than 70 firefighters and 28 vehicles remain at the scene after the fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Part of the huge building – owned by kitchen boss Vance Miller – has also collapsed, leaving mountains of debris and burning embers flying around the site.