Wigan takeaway and frozen food business both hit by fat fryer blazes on the same night

A Wigan eatery and food processing plant were both counting the cost today after their premises were damaged by fat fryers catching fire.
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A passer-by spotted flames coming from the ducting at Afreddo Pizza on Woodhouse Drive, Beech Hill, shortly after midnight on Friday September 16.

With no-one inside at the time, a Wigan fire crew had to break through the shutters to get into the takeaway and put out the flames.

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The machine was damaged as too was the shop by heat and smoke.

Alfreddo on Woodhouse DriveAlfreddo on Woodhouse Drive
Alfreddo on Woodhouse Drive
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In an entirely separate incident, two crews from Wigan and one from Hindley were also called to Chillcoat Foods Ltd on Richard Street, Ince, when one of its industrial fat fryers burst into flames at around 6.30am.

Staff at the 24-hour operation, which was preparing chips for freezing, were all safely evacuated.

Four firefighters wearing breathing gear tackled the blaze which, Wigan watch manager Ian Swanwick said, caused damage to the equipment, extraction ducting and the premises themselves.

Chillcoat Foods at InceChillcoat Foods at Ince
Chillcoat Foods at Ince
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He added that there were no suspicious circumstances but it wasn’t clear if there was a fault in the machinery or the ducting.

Director and owner of Chillcoat Foods, Adam Driver, told Wigan Today: “We have full fire suppression systems and fire alarms in place and the evacuation proceeding was undertaken safely and successfully.

"We are all now involved in a big clean-up operation, the damage will be assessed and we will endeavour to get back on line as soon as possible.

"We do not know what the cause is yet.”

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