The Assistant Chief of Greater Manchester FRS has praised the contribution of both his team and the sprinkler system which helped limit the impact of a fire at a flour mill in Stockport in the early hours of Friday morning [1 June].

Crews from Whitehill, Stockport, Hyde, Offerton and an operational support unit were called to Albion Mills on Lancashire Hill after a hot air compressor caught fire on the ground floor of the main flour mill.

Sprinklers fitted inside the building had also activated as result of the fire, controlling it until two firefighters in breathing apparatus went in and tackled the blaze with a hose reel and a jet to prevent the fire spreading.

Four people had evacuated the mill before firefighters arrived although the compressor was destroyed.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Peter O'Reilly said: "Protecting businesses is extremely important because the consequences of a fire can be far reaching.

"Many businesses do not reopen or struggle following a large-scale fire - which can have a huge impact on jobs and those living nearby - so it is vital we work closely with them and can respond quickly to a fire.

"Having a working sprinkler system is like having a firefighter in your home or business, it acts extremely quickly to control it, even if nobody is present."

Watch Suffolk MP Peter Aldous & Suffolk Chief Andy Fry discuss the importance of installing sprinklers in all new buildings:

Make sure your voice is heard on the Sprinkler Issue by voting in our homepage poll and signing the Government e-petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/4409 

Posted 07/06/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com