Fire crews battle wood waste blaze at city docks

FIRE crews remained at the scene of a serious blaze at Alexandra Docks in Newport yesterday after 20,000 tonnes of wood went up in smoke.

Crews from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service were still at the scene of the blaze, more than 12 hours after it started late on Saturday afternoon.

The fire, involving wood waste material, raged at one of the timber mills throughout the evening.

Fire officials warned nearby residents to keep their windows closed due to the large plume of smoke.

A spokesperson for the fire service said they expected crews to be at the scene throughout last night.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said its officers are working with the fire service to tackle the blaze.

Sarah Jones, consultant in environmental health protection, said: “Smoke can irritate air passages, leading to coughing, breathlessness and chest pain. It can also worsen asthma. Anyone concerned about their symptoms should contact their GP. “