Man fell through roof after fire at disused pottery factory
A 21-YEAR-OLD who stopped at the scene of a factory fire had to be taken to hospital after falling through its roof.
The man and two friends were reportedly on the way home from a night out when they spotted smoke coming from the former John Tams factory in Longton.
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BLAZE: The former John Tams factory, Longton.
Emergency services were alerted to the arson attack by the trio around 2.55am yesterday.
The 21-year-old is said to have fallen through a skylight in a one-storey part of the building after the group climbed up a fire escape to see if anyone was inside the property. He had to be rescued by firefighters.
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A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "When we arrived, we found three men all believed to be in their late teens or early 20s.
"One had reportedly fallen through the roof of the factory.
"From what we were told, they had seen the fire and gone to help.
"We treated one patient for an injury to his lower back.
"He walked out of the factory but once outside, he was immobilised using a spinal board."
The man was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.
Both of the other men were taken to the same hospital. One suffered a "very minor" injury and the other had no signs of injury, but both were sent for further assessment.
Two fires had been started on the first floor of the factory on The Strand.
An investigation has found they were started deliberately.
The incident is now being investigated by the police.
Crew commander Ivan Fenton, from Longton fire station, said: "On arrival, there was smoke issuing from the first floor of the two-storey property.
"We had to rescue a gentleman who was driving past with two friends when the fire started and thought he would check it out.
"The fire was in two offices on the first floor, where a large quantity of paper had been set alight.
"The property was completely smoke-logged on the first and second floors, with fire damage contained to the two offices."
Around 25 firefighters from Longton, Hanley and Newcastle were at the scene. The last crew left just before 4.40am.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued an appeal to those who discover a fire not to put themselves in danger, to call 999 and wait in a safe place. No one else was found inside the building.
Station manager Garry Goodwin, pictured, added: "Starting fires deliberately is an incredibly dangerous thing to do; it endangers lives and ties up emergency resources."
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "We are aware of the incident and are investigating the circumstances.
"We appeal for anyone with any information to contact us."
Witnesses should ring the new police non-emergency number 101 quoting incident number 42 of January 4 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Comments
by Goach
Saturday, January 07 2012, 5:42PM
“Personally I think you should all "wait and see" before accusing without the facts to back it up, I can see why people think its suspect but we don't know for sure. Scenario 1 - The story they have told is true and there are witnesses. Scenario 2 They were 'tatting' for scrap metal, perhaps lead on the roof and one of them falls through a skylight. The other two think right how are we going to get him out? If we call the emergency services they will want to know what we were doing here. I know, we will start a fire and then we can say we went to investigate. If they have started this fire I am sure a joint fire service and police investigation will bring the matter to light, and then in the not too distant future on this site it will be there for all to see and then the accusers can then say I told you so, or they can eat some humble pie.”
by zoiders
Saturday, January 07 2012, 5:31PM
“Scarrat is doing the deluded Stokey thing Thetrojon - they like to pretend they know all the inside information about everything as they are "in the know" or "one of the lads" and that everyone else who isn't a member of the secret clique simply "doesn't understand". This is more commonly known as "lying".
You would have to work for a hospital or for the emergency services to know all that rubbish that Scarrat posted - which would in turn get you sacked for breaching confidentiality.”
by THETROJON
Saturday, January 07 2012, 4:58PM
“Scarratt72
dont you think if any of your facts are right the press office would be having a field day
3 service men try to rescue anyone in building...
21 year old has serious back inj and underwent 2.5 hour operation
what poppy cock”
by THETROJON
Saturday, January 07 2012, 4:54PM
“Fact
i have never read such rubbish as Scarratt72 has placed on this site,
Scarratt72 please do tell how come you know so much fact about this trio.
Fact! The 21yr old had a 2 & 1/2 hour back operation but due to his physical fitness is amazingly doing very well
yet he walked out of the building ? the paramedic who let him walk would be sacked if he had a 2.5 hour operation to repair his back .. trust me i know”
by zoiders
Saturday, January 07 2012, 4:31PM
“I would like to know how Scarrat has all this "Fact!" related knowledge.
Sounds a bit like it's all made up chinese whispers to me - no submariner in his right mind would go on to the roof of a burning building, they train to fight fires on submarines and they know the dangers, two airmen should know better as well.
No one needs "help" in an abondoned factory, you certainly don't go searching one thats on fire on the off chance that someone may inside.
I doubt any servicemen were involved in this at all.”
by Scarratt72
Saturday, January 07 2012, 3:36PM
“Fact! The three young men are serving in the Forces two RAF & the injured one is a Submariner in the Royal Navy!
Fact! They were in a Taxi passing the 'front ' of the building on the Strand saw the fire and as they are not familiar with the area and did not know that it was a empty factory got out to see if they could help anyone that may have been in there! oops ! another Fact! The Taxi Driver called the emergency services (witness)
Fact! The 21yr old had a 2 & 1/2 hour back operation but due to his physical fitness is amazingly doing very well
Fact! none of the three will be claiming compensation!
Fact! They were not the Arsonists nor were they 'Tatting' for metal etc !
Facts should never get in the way of Fiction! I do hope that you cynics never need help!”
by THETROJON
Friday, January 06 2012, 3:26PM
“"He walked out of the factory but once outside, he was immobilised using a spinal board."
whats the point doing this??? he "walked out of the factory "" so if he had spinal inj he is in line for some serious compo.......
should have been on the spinal board from the word go and never walked anywhere”
by THETROJON
Friday, January 06 2012, 3:22PM
“katiej2010
Are you for real girl? come on smell the coffee thank god your not a police officer or work for the CPS everyone would be sent home free as a bird, a three or four year old could put a better story together than the 3 dip sticks that were after scrap metal if truth be know ..”
by james208
Friday, January 06 2012, 2:42PM
“Hmm!How did the 3 men get through the locked gate at 2:30 in the morning? Why did they go and 'help?' I think we'll read more of this in the coming weeks!I'm looking forward to reading who they were.”
by NOONESHOME
Friday, January 06 2012, 2:09PM
“Katie. I am sorry if you think i called you stupid,but i in know way meant you were stupid. I said you were gullible,this just means easily taken in,not stupid.Also, how did i insult you,
Read the posts Katie and calm down.I think i must be getting more cynical in my old age.”