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Large fire now under control

A large fire at a commercial building and garages in Oldham is now under control after being tackled by around 50 firefighters.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed at around 9am on Wednesday (6 November) that the blaze on Pitt Street was under control as firefighters battled the fire in the early hours of the morning. 

They said in a statement: "A portion of the building has collapsed due to the intensity of the fire.

"At the height of the blaze, eight fire engines were at the scene as crew used hydraulic platforms to put water onto the fire from above."

At 12pm, they said the fire has now been largely scaled back and only one pump remains.

GMFRS said: "Thank you to all firefighters who tackled the blaze throughout the morning and have managed to get the incident under control."

Crews from Oldham, Chadderton, Rochdale, Heywood, Mossley, Blackley, Stalybridge and Manchester Central were dispatched at around 4.40am.

Ten homes nearby were evacuated as a precaution due to safety concerns and are being supported by Oldham Council to move to a safe place. Those residents are yet to return home. 

GMFRS added: "Firefighters will remain at the scene throughout the day as they continue to put water onto the fire to extinguish any remaining pockets of fire.

"We expect road closures to be in place for the next few hours. Some residents may experience a loss of water pressure while the incident is ongoing." 

Paul Fearnhead, Group Manager for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I want to praise our hardworking firefighters, especially after a very busy Bonfire Night." 

A number of road closures are in place, with people being asked to avoid the area to allow smooth access for the emergency services.

There's also a warning about smoke in the area, with people living nearby being asked to keep their doors and windows closed.

Image: Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

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