A HUGE fire involving 5,000 tyres sent flames and smoke towering into the sky above East Lancashire.

Fifty firefighters tackled the blaze at Frank Owen Commercial Vehicle Spares, off Accrington Road, Hapton, at its height and the effects of the blaze could be seen for miles.

Firefighters warned nearby residents to keep their windows closed as eight crews and an aerial ladder platform battled the flames on Friday night.

Today the business was expected to be open as usual after firefighters managed to stop it spreading to neighbouring buildings.

Deputy chief fire officer Justin Johnston said the large quantity of tyres, covering an area measuring 100 metres by 50 metres, proved ‘difficult’ to put out.

The cause was still being investigated by the fire service but early indications were that it started accidentally.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Crews manning eight fire engines, a cherry picker, hazardous materials unit, high volume pump and mobile command centre tackled the blaze from 8.34pm and remained at the scene on Saturday morning damping down.

Accrington Road was closed between junction nine of the M65 and Rossendale Road for several hours, as were a number of other local roads to prevent watching crowds getting too close.

A fire service spokesman said: “Firefighters prevented the fire from engulfing a building and stopped the blaze from spreading beyond the tyre stack.”

Firefighters from Burnley, Padiham, and Hyndburn were among those called out. They were joined by crews from Clitheroe on Saturday.

Lancashire Telegraph:

 

Police were also in attendance, while a helicopter was spotted overhead. No-one was injured during the incident, the fire service said.

The day after four crews remained at the breakers’ yard, damping down and using on-site machinery to extinguish smouldering debris.

Lancashire Telegraph: