Fire at Viridor waste transfer station
A fire broke out a Viridor’s waste transfer station in Crawley, West Sussex, on Friday (29 May), after refuse in a waste lorry caught alight.
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (WSFRS) were called to the transfer station on Metcalf Way at around 4.20 p.m. on Friday, after receiving reports of a lorry catching alight inside the single-storey recycling centre.
Large plumes of smoke could reportedly be seen from miles away and WSFRS advised local residents to close windows and doors ‘as a precaution’.
In total, nine fire engines, three hydrants, one aerial ladder platform and four jets – along with 60 litres of foam – were used by around 50 firefighters to extinguish the fire, which was thought to have been started by ‘accidental ignition’.
According to WSRFS, the fire was extinguished at around 11 p.m., after a crew member drove the vehicle out of the building to allow better access to the seat of the fire, and prevent the building from further damage.
Tactical firefighting continues in #Crawley: Affected HGV removed from building & ALP used to create water tower. pic.twitter.com/8pq2h1ONka
— West Sussex Fire (@WestSussexFire) May 29, 2015
WSRFS Group commander Dave McMarn said the crew member who drove the burning vehicle out of the building held a licence for articulated lorries. He told the BBC: “One of my watch commanders managed to get in there wearing breathing apparatus and drive it into the open air.
“That meant it was a lot easier for us to attack the fire and put it out much quicker.”
The fire service estimated that around 75 per cent of the lorry trailer had been damaged by the fire, and around 20 per cent of the recycling building was damaged by heat.
The site was closed on Saturday (30 May) to allow the fire service to monitor the situation, but reopened yesterday morning (31 May).
A Viridor spokesperson said: “The site’s unit emergency plan was instigated quickly and efficiently with everyone being evacuated off site safely and in line with health and safety procedures.”
In 2008, a similar fire ‘completely destroyed’ the transfer centre building, which only opened 10 months later following an ‘extensive reconstruction’.
Waste site fires commonplace
Fires at waste sites are commonplace, with figures released last year 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 new guidance to help waste site operators reduce fire risk.
Endorsed by the Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CFOA), and developed with input from the Environment Agency (EA), the Environmental Services Association (ESA), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Health and Safety Laboratories (HSL), and other bodies, the guidance outlines how best to safely manage the storage of materials susceptible to combustion.
The Operations Director of the CFOA, Roy Wilsher, said that the guidance was “hugely useful”.
Find out more about waste fire guidance.
