HAZARDOUS SMOKE FEARS OVER BIG BLAZE AT RECYCLING CENTRE
A PLUME of potentially “hazardous” smoke was making its way over homes yesterday after a large fire broke out at an industrial estate.
Smoke was seen billowing from two warehouses belonging to Stanton Recycling Limited, just off Crompton Road, Ilkeston, on Tuesday night.
The fire service warned there was a plume of smoke heading towards Trowell.
Fire crews from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire sent eight pumps to fight the flames which have now put a building at risk of collapse on the industrial estate.
Two aerial ladder platforms and a major rescue unit also attended.
Flames were visible inside one warehouse into the morning after crews were first called out at around 11pm the evening before, and the roof of one warehouse has since completely collapsed.
David Diggins, incident commander at the scene, confirmed a mixture of bio-fuels had caught alight and said the smoke was “hazardous”.
Residents of Trowell, Wollaton, Bilborough, Strelley and Broxtowe were asked to shut their windows and monitor social media for the latest updates on the incident. He said: “On arrival [crews] found a well-alight fire within the building and they quickly made more resources on the scene.
“Due to the layout of the building and the materials contained inside, such as domestic waste because it is a recycling centre, it was quite a hazardous incident for us.
“Everything was done quite defensively from the external parts of the building, and getting water into the centre of a large building was quite tricky at times.
“Fortunately our crews have worked tirelessly throughout the night and we have managed to get on top of the fire.
“There has been some signs of structural collapse so what we are doing now is take a very cautious approach.
“There is a plume of smoke that is heading up towards the Trowell area and there is potential for them to start to smell that so we are advising them to keep their windows closed.
“By nightfall we will be on top of it and we will investigate. It is a mixture of bio-fuel, such as wood chippings, so it is smouldering.”
A man working at Stanton Recycling Centre said: “The fire brigade are in charge trying to dampen down. No-one is injured”.
Trowell resident Amy Potts Padgett said dust and various smells regularly drift into the village from the industrial estate. She added: “We are really concerned what is in this smoke.
“Who on Earth knows what we will be breathing in today.”