Oldham: Wheelie bin fire in Bardsley spreads to block of flats

Neighbours believe the bin was deliberately set alight by youngsters.

 Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services were called to reports of a fire at a property on Middlefield, in Bardsley.

Shortly after 2am, resident Tony White woke from his sleep to find a wheelie bin beside his home alight.

A cordon has been put in place by the fire service, beside Mr White's bedroom window (Image: Newsquest)

The 60-year-old said: "It was about 2.10am, and my bedroom is literally next to it so I must've heard something, anyway something woke me up and I looked out the window and one of the bins was on fire.

"So, I called the fire brigade and they got here not even 10 minutes later - they were here rapid.

"It then spread and actually has done damage to the roof, if I didn't alert anyone then the whole flat could've gone up."

The pharmacy delivery driver added: "There was about six or seven wheelie bins there, the ones that you see now have just been put there for the cordon."

'Six or seven' wheelie bins were incinerated in the fire (Image: Newsquest)

Neighbouring Stephen Lowe, a retired record shop owner, told The Oldham Times that he too lives in the apartment block and that he had to navigate through "thick black smoke" to exit.

The 72-year-old has claimed "kids" set fire to the bins, which in turn set the stairwell ablaze - which was the only exit for Mr Lowe.

He said: "I've lived here 10 years and nothing like this has happened before.

"Luckily everyone is alright, but the person above Tony was babysitting her grandchild at the time.

Stephen Lowe told The Oldham Times he had to feel his way down stairs due to thick black smoke (Image: Newsquest)

"I just heard something on the roof, I put some shorts and a T-shirt on, and all I could just see was thick smoke - I had to feel my way down the stairs."

Mr Lowe continued: "It was kids who did it, the lad at number three - he's got security cameras. He didn't get a face but he's got a photograph of them."

Four fire engines were in attendance, one from each of the stations in the borough - Chadderton, Hollins and Oldham, as well as one from Stalybridge.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) added: “At just before 2.30am today (May 18), fire crews were called to reports of a fire at a property on Middlefield, Oldham.

A window to the stairwell was engulfed in flames (Image: Newsquest)

“Four engines from Oldham, Hollins, Chadderton, Stalybridge and the aerial appliance from Manchester Central quickly attended the scene.

“Eight persons and one dog were rescued by fire service personnel."

They continued: "Fire fighters used two hose reels, four breathing apparatus', breaking-in gear, a short extension ladder, a thermal imaging camera, gas monitors, lighting and a turntable ladder to extinguish the fire.

“Crews were in attendance for approximately two hours and fifty minutes.”