Latest news with #WarrenLord
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Storage World fire: 'Help find my dad's treasured possessions'
A woman whose late father's treasured belongings were being kept at a storage unit that went up in flames has told how she is hoping the sentimental items can be Lord's father Warren died suddenly two years ago at the age of 48. She had been storing his belongings at the Storage World unit in Middleton, Rochdale, where a fire broke out on 18 June, but believes the sentimental possessions may have survived."My dad was my best friend, I really thought the world of him. For me, retrieving my dad's possessions is not about money it's about preserving his legacy," the 25-year-old from Middleton said. "He wasn't a man that had designer things he had stuff that was 'him'. He loved his job so there's a big toolbox in there with tools he's collected since the age of 18."There's pictures of me when I was a kid, pictures of our old family dog, Father's Day gifts that I've bought him, mugs, loads of just little things alongside his tools that are irreplaceable and sentimental to me." The building is set to be demolished on safety grounds but after seeing drone footage of the wreckage, she believe her section of the warehouse may be salvageable. Ms Lord has launched a petition asking Storage World to allow those with surviving units to be given the opportunity to access them. She said they are all willing to pay privately to get their belongings removed by a professional salvage World said it had contractors on site who are salvaging goods from outside the building and also assessing the best way to demolish it with the maximum opportunity to save any belongings. Ms Lord said: "I am fighting to get it back as much as I physically can just because I feel like my dad deserves more than that."He didn't work his full life for his belongings to get destroyed. He doesn't deserve that and neither do I."It's equally as traumatic for me as everyone else going through this so I'm going to keep fighting until something comes out of it, whether they are charred, smoke damaged, water damaged, that's fine but I'd rather have that than nothing."Storage World said drone footage had shown "very limited goods that are in a salvageable condition" but it remains remains committed to recovering any belongings safely.A statement said: "We understand people have a strong emotional connection to the items they have lost, which is why we are doing what we can to salvage them. Safety is our number one consideration." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
'It feels like I'm grieving him all over again'
A devastating fire at a storage unit in Middleton has seen people losing irreplaceable family keepsakes, including of deceased loved ones. Fortunately no-one was injured in the fire, which the Manchester Evening News understands has involved lithium ion batteries. However, many people have been left grieving the loss of precious keepsakes which any potential insurance compensation will not be able to replace. READ MORE: "I can't change it, but wow am I paying for it": Mum gets STUCK in Turkey after making 'worst mistake of my life' in hotel room while drunk with boyfriend READ MORE: Body found in search for Adeo weeks after going missing as family remembers 'vibrant and talented human being' Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Among them is 25-year-old Mollie Lord, who had kept some of her late dad Warren's possessions in the unit. She said: "My dad passed away two years ago really suddenly, he got poorly on Monday and died on the Sunday, he was only 48. "He had a big toolbox with all the tools from over the years, he collected Lego, we're talking limited edition pieces. "I thought when I had kids I could pass his Lego on to them so they could have something of his, but now it's probably all gone." Mental health worker Mollie has been left devastated by the fire. "I've been crying since I found out it was on fire," she said. "I'm in shock that it's even happening. "I've not grieved my dad, and it feels like I'm grieving him all over again. I would give anything to sit with his stuff again." Ann Howarth had also stored her late father's belongings in the facility. She said: "This has left me devastated beyond words. My dad raised me himself from being born. He was my everything. He died a couple of years ago. "I decided to pack up all of my personal items, and my daughters and everything of my dad's, on Monday this week. I put it all in storage world in Middleton, everything - paperwork, legal documents, my whole life and all of my memories. "Then just two days later, it goes up in flames. It very much looks like I have lost everything, things I can never get back. "To say that I am broken is an understatement. There are no words to describe it." Engineer Anthony Davies also had precious keepsakes from his late father in the lock-up. "It's stuff that you're never going to get back through insurance," he said. "It's pictures, a watch that he left me, he smoked a pipe and his favourite pipe was in there. He did run for Manchester City years ago and he got a medal, that was in there. "You expect things to be safe don't you?" Luanna Kelly was also impacted by the fire, and told the MEN: "Me and my partner are completely upset and broken. "We have stuff in there that is sentimental and that money can't replace like a picture of my partner's grandma and first holy communion stuff. "We are completely heartbroken." Quan Le shared that he used the facility to help run his business, which has been left devastated by the fire. He said: "I'm really struggling emotionally right now. I couldn't sleep at all last night. I haven't had the strength to go down there and see everything burnt – it's just too much." Crews from across Greater Manchester rushed to the fire yesterday as sickly yellow-tinged smoke belched from the windows. On June 19 the fire continued into a second day, with the roof of the building collapsing, and with it the hopes of many people to recover irreplaceable possessions. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: 'Crews have worked hard overnight to contain the fire at the commercial premises on Old Hall Street, Middleton. 'Six fire engines, the aerial unit and scorpion remain in attendance to tackle pockets of fire and make the building safe in challenging conditions. "Road closures remain in place with nearby residents advised to keep their doors and windows shut." A spokesperson for Storage World, the company which runs the unit, said: "Our Middleton store has suffered a serious fire. Authorities are currently in attendance and we will be contacting customers as soon as the situation has settled and we can assess the damage. This will be no later than Friday afternoon. "Please do not contact us directly but wait for us to communicate with you, as this will allow us to manage the current situation and ensure all customers are given accurate information as soon as possible."
