Fire crews escape as blazing roof collapses

FIRE ripped through three homes in Belmont Street

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

FIREfighters had to flee when the roof of a burning house in Coldhurst collapsed.

Two family homes were gutted alongside an empty end house when the blaze ripped through the row in Belmont Street yesterday. A baby and a toddler were among those who escaped unharmed.

The fire started in the empty house shortly before 12.20pm and spread to the two neighbouring houses owned by Angur Miah and his extended family.

The shocked father of three has lived there since 1992. He said: “It’s all gone. I am devastated – so much work has gone into the houses.”

Takeaway owner Mr Miah and his wife, sister- in-law and nieces aged one and two were home when the fire broke out. Those affected will stay with other family members he said: “We all got out and everyone was fine. At the time I wasn’t panicking because it was in the end house, it wasn’t affecting our houses. I thought they could save our houses – I didn’t think it would spread so badly.”

Thick smoke could be seen as several fire crews fought the blaze, which spread through the roofs.

Oldham watch Manager JP Helliwell said: “Crews were in the house for a matter of minutes when the roof started to collapse. They were withdrawn immediately.

“It was fairly hard to tackle because of the state of the building. When it started to collapse we were pretty much working from the outside.”

A safety inspection was due to be carried out this morning. Mr Miah said he had heard a noise in the empty property before the fire.

People who live in the nearby Barker Street Estate also alleged it had been targeted by intruders in the past. Lee Ramsden, who used to live in Belmont Street, said: It’s been abandoned for over 15 years. I heard people were squatting in there.”