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Tyre plant fire is investigated 'Costly stock' lost in tyre fire
(about 3 hours later)
An investigation is under way into a large fire at a tyre recycling plant where around 100 one-tonne piles of rubber pellets were ablaze. Administrators handling a tyre recycling plant say "costly stock" of rubber crumb was destroyed in a fire overnight.
People living near the Tyregenics factory on the Baglan Industrial park, near Port Talbot, have been asked to keep windows and doors closed. An investigation is now under way into the cause of the blaze at TyreGenics Ltd on the Baglan Industrial Park, near Port Talbot, on Thursday evening.
At its height on Thursday evening, more than 60 firefighters battled to bring the fire under control. At its height, around 60 firefighters battled to bring the blaze, in an outdoors storage area, under control.
One crew is now damping down at the site just off the M4. Around 2,500 one-tonne piles of rubber crumb was destroyed in the blaze.
Mid and West Wales Fire Service said crews were called to the fire at around 1820 GMT and 19 fire appliances attended.Mid and West Wales Fire Service said crews were called to the fire at around 1820 GMT and 19 fire appliances attended.
People living near the factory were asked to keep windows and doors closed.
Roads around the industrial estate were also closed for several hours.
It was brought under control at about 0100 GMT on Friday morning.It was brought under control at about 0100 GMT on Friday morning.
South Wales Police said there were no longer any road closures around Baglan Industrial Park and residents are no longer being asked to keep their windows and doors closed.
Your pictures of the Baglan fire Your pictures of the Baglan fire
The administrators of TyreGenics Ltd, Begbies Traynor, said Aberavon Road haulage yard - the storage facility where the fire began - was around half a mile from the TyreGenics plant itself.
There was no damage to any buildings and no-one was hurt, it said.
"There were around 2,500 one tonne bags of recycled rubber crumb at the facility and all of this product appears to have been lost to the fire, the cause of which is being investigated by the police," said a spokesperson for the administrators.
"The rubber crumb is not highly flammable and we are therefore very keen to hear the findings of investigations by the police and fire service.
"The TyreGenics plant itself is several hundred yards from the fire on Baglan Way, and was completely unaffected by the events, although thousands of bags of crumb stock worth hundreds of thousands of pounds have been lost."
Begbies Traynor added that TyreGenics was placed into administration on 15 January and the process of marketing it was unaffected by the blaze.
Fire crews called to a large blaze in Port Talbot. Video by John Lemmon.
More than 20 parties had contacted them with an interest in buying the business, they said, and they were confident a buyer could be found.
Meanwhile, South Wales Police have appealed for anyone who might have seen anything suspicious to come forward.
They said the cause of the fire was yet to be established.
Acting Det Insp Phil Sparrow, of Neath Port Talbot CID, said: "We are working with the fire service towards establishing a cause.
"I would appeal to anyone who may have seen any activity at the site prior to the fire to come forward with information.
"I would also appeal to anyone in the community who may have information regarding the fire to contact the police.
"The fire caused some disruption in the local area and I would like to thank residents for their co-operation during the course of the incident."
Describing the operation, fire commander Ken Wall said crews surrounded the fire and sprayed it as well as making checks on possible health risks from the smoke which was blowing towards Port Talbot town centre.Describing the operation, fire commander Ken Wall said crews surrounded the fire and sprayed it as well as making checks on possible health risks from the smoke which was blowing towards Port Talbot town centre.
None of the surrounding buildings were damaged, he said.None of the surrounding buildings were damaged, he said.
BBC Wales reporter Gilbert John, who was at the scene on Thursday evening, said hazard specialists said the smoke created as a result of this fire was not dangerous, but as it was blowing towards the local hospital they were taking precautions against it.
Fire crews called to a large blaze in Port Talbot. Video by John Lemmon.
One eyewitness told BBC Wales news that he had seen at least three explosions.One eyewitness told BBC Wales news that he had seen at least three explosions.
Police were at the site during the evening, already making inquiries into possible causes. Two crews remained on the site at 0800 GMT on Friday to dampen down the smouldering crumb.
A fire service incident commander will be at the factory later with an investigation team. Anyone with information should contact Port Talbot CID on 01792 456999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The plant recycles old tyres by shredding them into rubber pellets.
Here are a selection of your comments.Here are a selection of your comments.
Smoke rises from the blaze at Baglan (Picture: Stefan)Smoke rises from the blaze at Baglan (Picture: Stefan)
i have been down to the scene and the heat was unbearable i was standing around 70-100 yrds away from the blaze and the fumes were toxic the smell was visous. Marcus Harry , Port Talboti have been down to the scene and the heat was unbearable i was standing around 70-100 yrds away from the blaze and the fumes were toxic the smell was visous. Marcus Harry , Port Talbot
We looked out the window to find a sky full of thick smoke, its terrible!Sarah Loveday, Baglan, Port TalbotWe looked out the window to find a sky full of thick smoke, its terrible!Sarah Loveday, Baglan, Port Talbot
I saw the huge plume of smoke rising into the air. I saw it from Taibach, I can't believe it's coming from the Baglan Industrial estate, it's horrible sight to see such a huge mass of smoke drifting over the town. Ian James, Port TalbotI saw the huge plume of smoke rising into the air. I saw it from Taibach, I can't believe it's coming from the Baglan Industrial estate, it's horrible sight to see such a huge mass of smoke drifting over the town. Ian James, Port Talbot
i seen the fire around 7pm and it was huge, blazing flames shooting upvthrough the sky luckily it didnt spread near the hospital but it still is going now.conor trahar, port talbot , walesi seen the fire around 7pm and it was huge, blazing flames shooting upvthrough the sky luckily it didnt spread near the hospital but it still is going now.conor trahar, port talbot , wales
The fire is in between Genset and Halfords. Used to be old wasteground. Dual carrigeway has been closed along this stretch and M4 from Briton Ferry to Pyle will be closed.James, Port TalbotThe fire is in between Genset and Halfords. Used to be old wasteground. Dual carrigeway has been closed along this stretch and M4 from Briton Ferry to Pyle will be closed.James, Port Talbot