Seven fire engines, two hydraulic aerial platforms, a high-volume water pumping unit and around 35 firefighters remain at the scene of a ‘severe’ plastic site fire that broke out yesterday on the Tyseley Industrial Estate, Birmingham.
Crews have continued to make good progress throughout the night, West Midlands Fire Service said and are, this morning (11 August), still identifying and extinguishing hotspots.
Fire investigators have been at the scene overnight and their inquiries into the cause continue.
“We are still urging people nearby to keeps doors and windows closed while smoke remains in the area,” the service said.
“We expect to have a presence at the scene for much of the day.”
‘Working tirelessly’
100 firefighters tackled the incident at a Webb Plastics Recycling on Seeleys Road at 9pm last night (10 August).
Twenty fire engines were at the scene, together with hydraulic aerial platforms and a specialist high-volume water pumping unit.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Sarah Warnes, the Incident Commander, said: “This has been a significant incident, to which our crews have responded safely, effectively and assertively.
“In spite of extremely hot and arduous conditions, they have drawn on their skills and professionalism to ensure that the fire has been contained to the one site, saving nearby premises from harm.
As well as twenty fire crews we have also had a number of specialist resources at the scene, including our hazardous materials specialists and a high–volume water pumping team
“As well as twenty fire crews we have also had a number of specialist resources at the scene, including our hazardous materials specialists and a high–volume water pumping team.
“I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of our partners from many other agencies, with whom we will be working tirelessly throughout the night to bring this incident to a safe conclusion.”
Fire control received dozens of 999 calls from people for miles around who spotted the plume of thick, black smoke which rose from the fire.
People who live or work nearby are asked to keep doors and windows closed for the duration of the incident, and the public are being urged to avoid the area while our operations at the scene continue.
Crews were working ‘in very challenging conditions’, which meant that some firefighters had to be withdrawn from certain areas of the incident for safety and to minimise the risk of heat exhaustion, according to West Midlands Fire Service.