Historic Leek Mill Fire Forces Road Closure, No Injuries Reported

A fire that drew 118 emergency calls tore through The Big Mill in Leek on Friday night, leaving the six-storey Grade II listed building structurally unsound and an 18-year-old local man in police custody on suspicion of arson.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service received the call at 21:22 GMT and deployed six crews and an aerial ladder platform to the Mill Street site. By 11pm, people near the building reported it appeared completely burned out. Four crews remained at the scene as smoke continued to pour from the structure into the following morning.

Staffordshire Police confirmed the arrested man, a Leek resident, was being held in custody on suspicion of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered. No injuries were reported.

The blaze caused severe structural damage: Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said a portion of the building will have to be demolished. The mill had been described as derelict prior to the fire, but its Grade II listed status makes the loss significant for the town.

About 40 people were evacuated from nearby properties, with some families spending the night away from their homes. Staffordshire Police directed anyone displaced to contact an officer at the Co-op on West Street, Leek, to arrange housing and support.

The fire brigade urged those in the area to keep windows and doors closed because of excess smoke and asked drivers to avoid the scene. "Crews are asking people not to drive near the area as this is making things more difficult," the service stated. "Please keep doors and windows closed."

Both the A523 Mill Street, closed from Clerk Bank to Hamil Drive, and Bellevue, shut from the A523 Mill Street to Albert Street from 4:57am, remained closed in both directions. Staffordshire Police said Mill Street and surrounding streets would remain closed for some time, advising motorists to use alternative routes. Mill Street Kitchen said the closures prevented some deliveries, though its premises remained accessible on foot.

Staffordshire Moorlands MP Dame Karen Bradley wrote on Facebook: "I was so sad to see the terrible fire at the Big Mill in Leek last night." She thanked the emergency services, adding: "I hope that everyone is safe."

With demolition of part of the structure now confirmed and road closures still in effect, the full accounting of what was lost on Mill Street on Friday night is still to come.