FIRE ‘COULD BURN FOR DAYS’
RESIDENTS ADVISED TO STAY INDOORS 20,000 TONNES OF SCRAP METAL BURNING MOTORWAY DRIVERS WARNED TO TAKE CARE SMOKE VISIBLE FROM MILES AWAY
FIRE chiefs tackling a huge blaze at a scrap metal plant at Avonmouth in Bristol have warned it could be burning for days.
The fire service has confirmed as much as 20,000 tonnes of scrap metal is involved in the fire at Avonmouth Docks.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service have been at the scene on St Andrews Road near the M5 motorway, since Sunday night, tackling the fire which appears to have broken out in a heap of scrap metal.
Residents in the surrounding area have been advised to remain indoors where possible and keep their doors and windows closed as a result of the heavy smoke, which is reportedly affecting areas as far away as Thornbury in South Gloucestershire.
Warnings were put in place for drivers on the motorway to take care when driving through the area around Junction 18, as smoke billowing from the fire was drifting over the carriageway.
The scale of the job was outlined by Avonmouth Station Manager Neil Stradling, who said that the fire would be burning for at least the rest of yesterday and into today, and could be a number of days before it is out completely.
Fire crews were called on Sunday night to reports of a small fire within the huge pile of scrap metal at the Sims Metal Management
❝ It is going to be some considerable time, it could be days before we are able to say that the fire is out.
Avonmouth Station Manager Neil Stradling
premises, which is within the Bristol Port area at Avonmouth.
Local residents said they saw smoke and flames there from 10pm, and fire crews said they arrived at around 10.30pm on Sunday evening.
But by yesterday morning, the scale of the fire – and the plume of smoke – became apparent, with it reported to be visible from over in Wales, and affecting air quality as
distant as Thornbury and Yate as well as right across north and west Bristol.
The advice to people to stay indoors, and keep doors and windows shut, could be in place well into this week, according to Avon Fire and Rescue Service.
Mr Stradling said: “We’ve got a very big pile of metal here, and it’s roughly 20,000 tonnes. It’s all been cleaned, we’ve been informed.
“The fire is very deep-seated, it’s very much in the centre of the pile. A lot of work is required to dig it out to actually get to it and get the fire out.
“The duration is unknown, it’s something we can’t really tell.
“It’s very deep-seated, so until we’re able to actually access the centre of the fire, and get water onto the fire at that location, it’s impossible to tell.
“But it is going to be some considerable time, it could be days before we are able to say that the fire is out.”
The impact of the fire was being felt across the region.
Stroud District Council in Gloucestershire – about 30 miles away – said it had received reports of the smell of burning plastic in Horsley, Cashes Green, Cam, Dursley and Painswick.
The council issued warnings to anyone who suffers trouble with breathing that they should remain indoors if possible if they begin to notice smoke in the area.
Pictures from the coast of Wales showed a clear view of the smoke across the Bristol Channel. Other pictures showed the smoke could be seen from Kelston Round Hill, to the west of Bath, more than 10 miles from the site of the fire.