A fire in a car workshop at Towngate Works, Dark Lane, Mawdesley prompted a response of eight fire engines and crews (Chorley, Leyland, Tarleton, Bamber Bridge, Skelmersdale, Penwortham and two from Greater Manchester Fire Service) and crews in addition to the 'Stinger' appliance (based at Blackburn) to jet water down onto the fire and the Command Unit and support pump from Fulwood.

In addition to the Stinger jet, firefighters used three main jets, hosereel jets and were equipped with breathing apparatus. They used firefighting foam injected into the water to better extinguish the fuel and oil ignited in the blaze and took steps to ensure that local drains and watercourses were not contaminated by the water used to fight the fire.

The remote location made it necessary to pump water from sources some distance away, which explains the number of fire engines required, one at source pumping to one nearer the fire, then to the next nearest and so on. No-one was injured and the cause of the fire is being looked into.