Aftermath of fire at Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses in Longridge

The damage to the Butlers premises in the Shay Lane industrial estate Pic: Blog Preston

Firefighters are continuing to remain on the site of a major fire in Longridge.

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses packing centre and offices caught light on Monday evening shortly after 9.30pm.

The fire, at the Shay Lane Industrial Estate in Longridge, saw more than ten fire crews in attendance at its height.

Around six fire engines from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service are expected to continue to be in attendance as hoses are being run from the reservoirs at Longridge, along Preston Road, to continue to dampen down the site.

Pictures from Mark Ashmore below show the scale of the fire which was still being tackled throughout most of Tuesday although the fire service has brought the flames under control.

A spokesperson for Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses said: “Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has worked through the night to bring a fire at our office and packing site on Shay Lane, Longridge under control.

“Crews will remain on site for the next 24-48 hours and we would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work in challenging circumstances.

“Our dairy, which is a separate site in Inglewhite, was not impacted and continues to turn milk into cheese today. Our priority is supporting and looking after all of our team – our extended family – and we have been touched by the support from our local community and our customers.”

The fire saw Longridge High School and St Cecilia’s RC High School both closed during Tuesday as the playgrounds were littered with debris from the fire.

Councillor Lee Jameson and Councillor Kieren Spencer at the scene in Shay Lane during Tuesday morning Pic: Cllr Spencer

Ribble Valley councillor for Longridge, councillor Keiren Spencer, said: “The fire is no longer in the emergency stage, but there are still hotspots to manage, so the fire crew will likely remain on-site until tomorrow. As a result, there may be some restrictions on Preston Road, but it will remain open.

“For residents, rest assured that your gas, electricity, and water services should not be impacted. You can also safely clear any debris that may have fallen into your gardens. A building inspector from RVBC has already assessed the site, and the Environment Agency will be joining us later this afternoon. We don’t anticipate any major issues, but we’ll keep you updated if there are any developments.

“We’ve personally expressed our gratitude to Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (Official), as well as Lancashire Constabulary Police, for their quick and effective response. We’d also like to thank the Salvation Army, Preston and Longridge High School for their generous support to residents, local business owners, and first responders.

“We’ve met with the business owners and staff, leaving them our contact details and assuring them that, as representatives of the Town and Borough Council, we’re here to assist in any way we can.

“In times like these, our community’s resilience and unity shine through, and we’re proud to represent such a caring town. We’ll continue to offer our support, and our thoughts and well wishes go out to everyone affected by this incident.”