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| Saltley recycling site fire sees more than 800 tonnes ablaze | Saltley recycling site fire sees more than 800 tonnes ablaze |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Up to 800 tonnes of metal and plastic is ablaze at a recycling plant in Birmingham with huge plumes of smoke visible across the city. | Up to 800 tonnes of metal and plastic is ablaze at a recycling plant in Birmingham with huge plumes of smoke visible across the city. |
| More than 100 firefighters are tackling the fire at EMR in Saltley, West Midlands Fire Service said. | More than 100 firefighters are tackling the fire at EMR in Saltley, West Midlands Fire Service said. |
| Power supplies to 60,000 homes may have to be cut-off because the site of the fire is underneath pylons. | Power supplies to 60,000 homes may have to be cut-off because the site of the fire is underneath pylons. |
| Emergency services were alerted at about 14:00 BST and residents have been told to keep doors and windows shut. | Emergency services were alerted at about 14:00 BST and residents have been told to keep doors and windows shut. |
| National Grid staff are also at the scene because of concerns about a gas main next to a nearby canal. | National Grid staff are also at the scene because of concerns about a gas main next to a nearby canal. |
| The fire service said it believes the blaze started accidentally. | |
| More updates on this and other stories in Birmingham and the Black Country | More updates on this and other stories in Birmingham and the Black Country |
| There are 17 fire engines currently at the scene in Clarel Avenue and drivers have been warned to avoid the area. | There are 17 fire engines currently at the scene in Clarel Avenue and drivers have been warned to avoid the area. |
| BBC WM producer Kevin Pashby tweeted video of smoke billowing into the sky. | BBC WM producer Kevin Pashby tweeted video of smoke billowing into the sky. |
| West Midlands Fire Service tweeted: "The guys and girls are working really hard to stop this spreading. In dangerous conditions, lots of pops and bangs." | West Midlands Fire Service tweeted: "The guys and girls are working really hard to stop this spreading. In dangerous conditions, lots of pops and bangs." |
| The fire service urged people to stop calling after receiving more than 100 999 calls. | The fire service urged people to stop calling after receiving more than 100 999 calls. |
| Staff from the Environment Agency, which regulates the site, are at the scene because of concerns over pollution. | Staff from the Environment Agency, which regulates the site, are at the scene because of concerns over pollution. |
| Neil Johnston, West Midlands Fire Service station commander, said he expected crews to remain at the scene for several days because of the severity of the fire. | Neil Johnston, West Midlands Fire Service station commander, said he expected crews to remain at the scene for several days because of the severity of the fire. |
| "It's a large fire involving two large piles of recycling around 10m in height," he said. | "It's a large fire involving two large piles of recycling around 10m in height," he said. |
| "About 50% of the piles are well alight. | "About 50% of the piles are well alight. |
| "We have platforms and jets in-use trying to put the fires out. The fire is directly underneath an electric pylon so we're looking at isolating the electric in the surrounding area later on." | "We have platforms and jets in-use trying to put the fires out. The fire is directly underneath an electric pylon so we're looking at isolating the electric in the surrounding area later on." |
| From the scene: BBC Midlands Today's Elizabeth Glinka: | From the scene: BBC Midlands Today's Elizabeth Glinka: |
| There are huge flames and plumes of black smoke coming from the fire with more fire engines arriving at the scene every few minutes. | There are huge flames and plumes of black smoke coming from the fire with more fire engines arriving at the scene every few minutes. |
| I believe there are over 100 firefighters here now along with other emergency crews and Network Rail as there are two rail lines nearby. | I believe there are over 100 firefighters here now along with other emergency crews and Network Rail as there are two rail lines nearby. |
| I've seen a train approach very, very slowly as it has gone through the smoke, although we believe services are managing to get through. | I've seen a train approach very, very slowly as it has gone through the smoke, although we believe services are managing to get through. |
| Public Health England has also been called to the scene. | Public Health England has also been called to the scene. |
| There are power cables running through the site and so there are concerns supplies could be affected. | There are power cables running through the site and so there are concerns supplies could be affected. |
| There are no reports of any injuries. |