Barclays to buy GoHenry kids’ debit card and money app
Barclays is buying GoHenry, a kids' debit card app, to target young users.
The Guardian World1 min read
Bank of Dave star spots Warburtons fire from helicopter
TL;DR
A large fire erupted at the Warburtons bread factory in Burnley, Lancashire, sending smoke high into the air. Dave Fishwick, founder of Burnley Savings and Loan, spotted the blaze from his helicopter and alerted emergency services.
Key points
- Large fire at Warburtons bread factory in Burnley
- Smoke plume visible from helicopter
- Dave Fishwick alerted police and fire services
- Twelve fire crews responding to the incident
- Fire started around 14:45 BST
Mentioned in this story
WarburtonsBurnleyDave FishwickLancashire Fire and Rescue Service
A large fire has broken out at a bread factory in Lancashire.
The blaze at the Warburtons site in Burnley sent a plume of smoke hundreds of feet into the air, and was caught on camera by Dave Fishwick - founder of the credit union Burnley Savings and Loan - as he flew nearby in his helicopter.
On a Facebook post from his aircraft, he said he had called police and the fire service to alert them.
A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said 12 crews were tackling the fire, which broke out at about 14:45 BST, on the Billington Road industrial estate.
Fishwick, 55, who became a household name after setting up the credit union in his hometown and inspiring the films Bank of Dave and its sequel, narrated what he could see from the cockpit of his helicopter.
He said: "I'm flying over Burnley and there's a huge fire down there...
"I hope everybody is OK. It's unbelievable how big the fire is.
"I better call the fire brigade now and a just make sure they know about it.
"The big factory roof looks like it is going up. It looks like it is Warburtons."
The fire service advised anyone nearby to keep their windows and doors closed.
A spokesperson for Warburtons said the building had been safely evacuated, and the cause of the fire - or extent of the damage - was not yet known.
Self-made millionaire Fishwick made his fortune from selling vans, and founded Burnley Savings and Loan in 2011 to give local people affordable credit.
The Netflix film Bank of Dave, which was a fictionalised account of his attempts to get a banking licence for his credit union, was released in 2023, starring Rory Kinnear.
Warburtons is the UK's largest family-owned bakery firm, founded in 1876 in Bolton.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Q&A
What caused the fire at the Warburtons factory in Burnley?
The cause of the fire at the Warburtons factory has not been disclosed yet.
How many fire crews are responding to the Warburtons fire?
Twelve fire crews from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service are currently tackling the fire.
What time did the fire break out at the Warburtons site?
The fire broke out at approximately 14:45 BST.
