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Firefighters at paper plant blaze Paper plant blaze still burning
(1 day later)
Firefighters are tackling a blaze at a unit on the Deeside Industrial Park in Flintshire. A fire at a Flintshire paper recycling plant is still burning, but it is under control, firefighters have said.
Six fire engines were sent to the paperback recycling plant after the alarm was raised at about 1030 BST. Six engines were sent to Paperback Recycling Ltd on Deeside Industrial Park after the alarm was raised at around 1030 BST on Wednesday.
Plumes of smoke can be seen from the surrounding area and householders and businesses nearby are being advised to keep doors and windows closed. Firefighters have been unable to enter the building to fully extinguish the fire after the roof collapsed.
The plant has been evacuated. Firefighters are trying to bring the fire under control. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze was thought to have been caused by recycled paper overheating.
A spokesman for North Wales Fire Service said: "We don't believe there are any hazardous materials involved, but we're advising people to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution while we deal with the incident." Householders and businesses nearby were advised to keep windows and doors closed as a large plume of smoke could be seen for miles around.
The premises are owned by a company called Paperback and signage outside describes it as a paperback collection and recycling firm. But no hazardous substances were involved and there were no reported injuries.
Ian Williams, operations commander at the scene, confirmed that no one had been reported injured but that workers from neighbouring businesses had been evacuated.
The building is designed to collapse in on itself In pictures: Paper plant fireThe building is designed to collapse in on itself In pictures: Paper plant fire
"Gas and electricity suppliers have been called to the scene to assist in closing down supplies to the premises. The Environment Agency have been informed and North Wales Police and ambulance are in attendance." Fire Service spokesman Bob Mason said: "The building is structurally very unsafe.
The blaze is being fought from the outside because it is too hot for fire crews to go in and also because the building has been designed to collapse inwards. "The fire is under control, but following the collapse of the roof yesterday afternoon, it is impossible to send firefighters into the building to extinguish the remaining fire.
There were reportedly only four people in the building and they all escaped unhurt. "The building contains big bales of recycled paper which are smouldering and at present we are unable to get to them properly.
One firefighter said the middle of the building was stacked to the roof with paper so they expected it to be a "long job". "We will need to work with a heavy lifting company to get at the paper inside and we anticipate being at the scene for at least the next 24hrs."
He added it would probably be a matter of days before it burnt itself out completely. The premises are owned by Paperback Recycling Ltd and signage outside describes it as a paperback collection and recycling firm.
Parts of the building have melted in the heat and it appears to be collapsing. Engines and equipment from Chester, Deeside, Flint, Buckley, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Wrexham have been used to tackle the fire.
There is also a 1000 litre diesel tank nearby although fire crews said it was being protected and did not pose any threat. On Wednesday, Ian Williams, operations commander at the scene, said: "The Paperback Recycling plant specialises in recycling shredded paper from another plant.
Engines and equipment from Chester, Deeside, Flint, Buckley and Wrexham are being used to tackle the fire. "That supply of shredded paper must have still been warm when tipped here and when it was exposed to the air on such a warm day, it caught fire, which spread quickly to other paper being stored at the premises."