The fire was reported at about 1:15pm on Saturday (4 January 2024). Video footage of the incident taken by a bystander is available online:
The fire service reported that the blaze had started in a recycling compactor and that the burning waste was generating a large quantity of smoke.
Residents were advised to keep doors and windows shut and stay away from the area while crews deal with the incident.
On Sunday (5 January 2024) the fire was confirmed to be out, although some crews remained on scene to liaise with the site managers. It was reported that no one was harmed in the incident.
A spokesperson from Biffa told Letsrecycle.com: “We can confirm that the fire services have been called to attend an incident at the Biffa Aldridge processing site. The building has been fully evacuated and all colleagues accounted for with no injuries reported. We would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response.”
10 fire engines, 32 sets of breathing apparatus, four hose reel jets, two main jets, a hydraulic platform and a drone were deployed to extinguish the fire.
The drone was used to identify hotspots for firefighters to target.
A spokesperson for the West Midlands Fire Service said: “This severe fire at the recycling plant was a complex incident, with a complex layout to manage. However, the incident is now under control.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and investigations are underway.”
On Sunday, the West Midlands Fire Service also sent six crews to a blaze at an unnamed recycling site on Bloomfield Road in Tipton.
By the end of the day the crew reported that the smoke had cleared but that they would remain on site until Monday. Roads in the area have reopened.
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