Industry

Family home gutted in NI recycling plant fire

A family has avoided injury but was left homeless after a fire at a County Down recycling centre spread to their house last night.

Police are treating the fire, which broke out among piles of plastic waste at the recycling plant in the village of Rathfriland at around 1.45am this morning, as suspicious.

Andy and Rebecca Peden and their two-year-old daughter managed to get out of their house in the adjacent Kiltariff Drive before it was completely destroyed in the blaze, while a second house on the street was also damaged.

A crowdfunding page set up this morning to help the family following the fire has already, at the time of writing, raised over £3,000.

At the fire’s height, 42 firefighters and seven appliances fought the blaze. Crews remain at the site as they continue to dampen parts of the recycling centre. A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said that fighting the fire had been particularly difficult due to high winds.

A spokesperson said on arrival at the scene in the early hours of today “crews noted the fire involved one detached dwelling and plastics stored in the yard of a nearby factory”.

Environmental impact being monitored

Residents of the village have been advised to stay indoors on Tuesday and keep doors and windows closed as smoke continues to rise from the burning plastic waste.

In a statement, Northern Ireland Environment Minister Mark H. Durkan confirmed that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is working with authorities to minimise the environmental impact of the fire.

He said: “This concerns me, especially given the fact that there was a risk to human safety. NIEA officers are providing guidance and assistance to the NIFRS, and they are assessing the environmental impact of the fire. NIEA is aware the Police Service of Northern Ireland has commenced an investigation into the cause of the fire.

“NIEA officers have initially assessed the impact to the environment as low. This recycling site has an exemption to waste management licensing for the baling, sorting, and shredding of waste plastics for recovery or reuse, and the sorting and baling of paper or cardboard for recovery.

“NIEA officers will remain on site to assist the NIFRS until their operations are completed. I have asked them to keep me constantly updated.”

Margaret Ritchie, MP for South Down, said: “There is a sense of relief that nobody was killed or injured as a result of the overnight fire at the recycling plant at Rathfriland which resulted in the safe evacuation of residents from two houses in Kiltarriff Drive.

“Fires always present dangers – but at Christmas time – a period of celebration, hope and expectation – fires bring a degree of sadness and fear.”