Senior Officers of Burnley Fire Brigade searching the charred ruins of the paint spraying section of Old Hall Mill for clues which might give them a lead as to how the fire started.
A radio message from a patrolling policeman probably saved a Burnley mill from being totally destroyed by fire late on Thursday night. The policeman spotted sparks coming from a section of Old Hall Mill, Old Hall Street, occupied by Gregory and Hephrun Ltd and used as an agricultural and hardware equipment factory.
It was discovered that the paint-spraying section of the works in a single storey section of the building was on fire. Two pumps and a turntable ladder combined with a pump from Burnley Fire Brigade were rushed to the scene and a pump appliance from the county brigade also went to the factory. The blaze was brought under control within 13 minutes of the call - made at 10.43 pm but firemen were at the scene for just over two hours. Senior officers of the brigade were still examining the charred ruins of the paint-spray booths on Friday in an effort to discover the cause of the blaze.
Approximately 300 sq.ft. of northern light roofing; twp paint spraying booths; 100 sq.ft. of wooden partitioning; timber storage racks and cabinets; a large quantity of wheelbarrow wheels; workmen's tools and the contents of the paint-spraying booths were all destroyed.
Mr. L. Hephrun a director of the firm said that none of the staff of 40 employed at the works would be affected by stoppages as a result of the fire. Arrangements had been made for a temporary paint-spraying section to be made available.