Following a fire that started in one of the hotel rooms, the owner of a pub and hotel in Greater Manchester says his “heart is crying.”
Just after midnight on Sunday, September 15, emergency personnel were called to the Assheton Arms Hotel on Market Place in Middleton in response to reports of a fire. At the height of the fire, witnesses reported seeing eight fire engines on the scene.
One person was admitted to the hospital, according to a Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman, but no major injuries are thought to have occurred. Since then, a man in his 30s has been taken into custody on charges of assault and arson. He is still being questioned by police.
This afternoon, a police scene persisted while enquiries were conducted. Two severely burned and blown-out windows were visible beneath the cordon, surrounded by broken glass and debris.
The Assheton Arms Hotel’s owner, Tariq Aziz, told the Manchester Evening News that a fire started in one of the guest rooms. The 61-year-old described the moment he saw smoke entering his flat, which is next to the hotel and bar: “We heard the smoke alarm and shouting, then we saw smoke.”
“The fire department arrived in a matter of minutes. This kind of incident has never happened before. We cannot have cameras in the rooms, but we do have CCTV and round-the-clock security.
Tariq claimed that when the startling reality of the fire dawned on him this morning, it felt like his heart was breaking. By next week, the owner hopes to have the affected hotel room restored.
“There is some smoke damage in the lobby and only one room was affected by the fire,” he continued. “My heart is shedding tears. We’ll make an effort to open today. The lobby will be worked on tomorrow, and the bedroom will be remodelled the following week.
“This morning (September 15, 2024), just before 12:15 a.m., eight fire engines from throughout Greater Manchester were called to the scene of a fire at a commercial building on Market Place, Middleton,” a spokesman for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service stated.
“Crews worked through the night to put out the fire after they swiftly arrived. Six breathing apparatuses, three hose reels, a thermal imaging camera, and two nine-meter ladders were utilised by the firefighters.
“Every casualty was handed over to the North West Ambulance Service, and one has been taken to the hospital.” At this moment, crews are still on site to keep an eye on the property and make sure it’s safe.
“We were called to reports of a fire at a hotel on Market Place in Middleton, Rochdale at around 12.15am this morning (Sunday, September 15, 2024),” a Greater Manchester Police spokesman continued.
“After emergency personnel arrived, a man in his 30s was taken into custody on charges of assault and arson. He is still being questioned by police. Fortunately, no one suffered serious injuries, and enquiries are still underway.
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