This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-28588714

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Ferrybridge power station Castleford on fire Ferrybridge Power station fire causes tower's partial collapse
(about 1 hour later)
A fire at Ferrybridge C power station, near Castleford, has caused the partial collapse of a tower. A fire has broken out at Ferrybridge C power station in West Yorkshire, causing the partial collapse of a tower.
Black smoke coming from the plant has led to problems on nearby roads. Drivers and householders have been advised to keep windows shut. At its height some 75 firefighters tackled the blaze, which broke out at about 14:00 BST.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service sent about 75 firefighters to the site at about 14:00 BST. Black smoke coming from the coal-fired power station led to problems on nearby roads, with drivers and householders advised to keep windows shut.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it had sent a hazardous area response team. There have been no reports of injuries. The blaze at the site near Castlefield has now been brought under control.
National Grid said the power station was currently on "summer shutdown" and had not been generating electricity.
It said a major substation on the site was not thought to have been damaged.
West Yorkshire Fire Service said there has been a "partial collapse of the tower which is on fire", adding that a structural engineer had been notified.
Public Health England is advising motorists in the area to keep windows closed and air vents closed and to turn off air-conditioning.
Householders are also being told to keep doors and windows closed and stay indoors if possible.
'Rage of flame''Rage of flame'
There is slow traffic on the M62 in both directions between junction 32 at Pontefract and junction 33 at Ferrybridge Services because of the smoke blowing across the road. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service no-one was injured but the blaze had resulted in the partial collapse of the tower, believed to be used to remove sulphur dioxide from gases produced at the power station.
The A1(M) is also affected between junction 42 for the A63 and junction 41 for the M62. The B6136 Stranglands Lane in Knottingley is closed. National Grid said the station was currently on "summer shutdown" and had not been generating electricity at the time the fire broke out. It said a major substation on the site was not thought to have been damaged.
The BBC's Matt Richards tweeted to say a number of small explosions had been heard coming from the fire. Owners SSE said everyone on the site had been accounted for.
The BBC's Matt Richards tweeted to say a number of small explosions had been heard coming from the fire at one stage.
An eyewitness told the BBC: "Well at first we heard the fire siren go off and then we saw a thick black plume of smoke.An eyewitness told the BBC: "Well at first we heard the fire siren go off and then we saw a thick black plume of smoke.
"We went outside and then about 10 minutes later it just all went up in a rage. Just a rage of flame.""We went outside and then about 10 minutes later it just all went up in a rage. Just a rage of flame."
A spokesperson for SSE, which operates the plant, said: "At around 14:00 today a serious incident occurred at SSE's Ferrybridge C power station in West Yorkshire. There is slow traffic on the M62 in both directions between junction 32 at Pontefract and junction 33 at Ferrybridge Services because of the smoke blowing across the road.
"The company's practised emergency response procedures have been activated. The A1(M) is also affected between junction 42 for the A63 and junction 41 for the M62. The B6136 Stranglands Lane in Knottingley is closed.
"West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service are in attendance and dealing with the incident with assistance from expert engineers on site. Public Health England advised motorists in the area to keep windows and air vents closed and to turn off air-conditioning.
"All personnel have been been accounted for and no injuries have been reported at this stage." Householders were also told to keep doors and windows closed and stay indoors if possible.
Ferrybridge C is situated on the River Aire and is the third coal-fired power station to be built on the site since 1924.Ferrybridge C is situated on the River Aire and is the third coal-fired power station to be built on the site since 1924.
The power station first fed electricity into the national grid in February 1966.The power station first fed electricity into the national grid in February 1966.