BOB Mason, 70, was working on his boat at the Atlas Mills in Chorley Old Road, Bolton, when he heard the news.
He was alerted to the blaze by someone shouting "Hey chaps, come outside, there's a heck of a fire burning in the town hall".
Mr Mason, who now lives in Anglesey, North Wales, said: "I looked across and saw the town hall ablaze.
"I was too busy working on the boat to leave it. I can still remember that night very clearly."
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