Blaze caused by self-heating recycling among spate of waste fires
The fire took place at Envirocom’s recycling plant in Rufford Street in Stourbridge on Sunday morning (7 August) and spread to adjacent businesses Stratstone Land Rover and Richmond Car hire.
The recycling yard caught fire and was consumed in the blaze, was brought under control by up to 65 firefighters and 11 fire engines. Representatives from the Environment Agency were also present.
Firefighters put road blocks in place and advised residents to keep their windows closed due to the smoke from the fire, which could be seen billowing in the sky, and the smell of burning plastic. They also remained at the site following the fire to dampen down the charred debris.
Nobody is thought to have been hurt during the blaze but investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of the fire, which is not being treated as suspicious. Yesterday evening West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) tweeted that the fire had been caused by the self-heating of recycled foam insulation that had been turned into pellets for use as fuel and stored in bulk.
The West Midlands Fire Investigation Twitter account then explained that such incidents can be prevented by ensuring stock is only stored once it has cooled and periodically checking for any heat build up.
WMFS Incident Commander Neil Griffiths said: "The fire engulfed a large quantity of recycling materials in an open yard. The fire was quite severe due to the wind and spread to a couple of surrounding units occupied by Stratstone Land Rover and a vehicle hire firm.
“The materials ranged from plastics through to tins. We are now turning over the rubble using a Bobcat digger to put the materials out from underneath. We want to hand the site back to the property owners as soon as is possible."
Other fires break out in summer heat
Another three fires involving recycling centres broke out yesterday (8 August), each of which has now been brought under control.
Firefighters were called out when a fire from a nightclub on Tunnel Avenue in Greenwich spread to a nearby scrap paper processing plant, requiring 15 fire crews and around 100 firefighters.
40 pallets of paper and some gas cylinders were affected by the fire, which was still being tended by four fire engines and 20 firefighters this morning. At the scene London Fire Brigade Group Manager Mark Hazelton reported that they were “dealing with remaining deep seated pockets of fire on the paper processing site."
The second fire took place at a recycling centre run by Biffa Waste Services Ltd in Marchwood Industrial Park in Southampton, where 10 pumps and two aerial ladder platforms and support vehicles and officers were needed as 200 tonnes of household waste caught fire. Firefighters still on scene and have advised local residents to close windows due to smoke.
A recycling yard in St Erth in Cornwall last night required the nearby railway line to be shut down as crews battled the blaze. An area of approximately 50 square metres, consisting mainly of tyres and ‘recyclable goods’ was affected by the fire, which was attended by crews from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service. An update issued at 10.30 this morning stated that eight crews remain on site fighting the fire, with a multi-agency meeting taking place to decide a plan of action..
Guidance to prevent waste fires
These incidents come just two weeks after a West London recycling centre caught fire twice within the same week although it is as yet unknown how this occurred.
Fires at waste sites are commonplace, with figures released in 2013 showing that between 2001 and 2012, the average rate of fires at waste and recycling works came in at just under one per day.
In an attempt to prevent fires from occurring, the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum has issued guidance to help waste site operators reduce fire risk, which Operations Director of the Chief Fire Officers’ Association, Roy Wilsher, said was “hugely useful”.
Find out more about waste fire guidance.
