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Fire breaks out at landfill site | Fire breaks out at landfill site |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Smoke from the fire was visible for miles around | |
More than 50 firefighters have been called to a fire at a landfill site in east Cornwall which has been declared a major incident by emergency crews. | More than 50 firefighters have been called to a fire at a landfill site in east Cornwall which has been declared a major incident by emergency crews. |
Cornwall Fire Service sent seven crews to the site at Lean Quarry, east of Liskeard, after the alarm was raised at about 0430 BST. | Cornwall Fire Service sent seven crews to the site at Lean Quarry, east of Liskeard, after the alarm was raised at about 0430 BST. |
People nearby in the village of Horningtops were told to stay inside because of burning plastic. | |
Smoke has been visible for miles around the site. | |
Smoke also blew across the A38 when the fire started because early morning fog and low cloud prevented it from dispersing, site managers said. | |
Gas extraction | Gas extraction |
The site, privately run by the waste company Viridor, takes industrial and domestic waste from Plymouth and Cornwall. | The site, privately run by the waste company Viridor, takes industrial and domestic waste from Plymouth and Cornwall. |
The fire broke out at the eastern end of the tip and firefighters from Devon were also called to the scene. | The fire broke out at the eastern end of the tip and firefighters from Devon were also called to the scene. |
Firefighters have been taking water from a lagoon on the site to tackle it. | Firefighters have been taking water from a lagoon on the site to tackle it. |
Firefighters said there was a considerable risk from methane, a gas that builds up naturally in landfill sites, and were monitoring the situation closely. | Firefighters said there was a considerable risk from methane, a gas that builds up naturally in landfill sites, and were monitoring the situation closely. |
Firefighters from Devon and Cornwall were called to the scene | Firefighters from Devon and Cornwall were called to the scene |
Viridor site manager Terry Farrant said the site's full-time methane extraction equipment was still being used to remove gas, but that it might have to be shut down if the fire got any closer to any pumps. | Viridor site manager Terry Farrant said the site's full-time methane extraction equipment was still being used to remove gas, but that it might have to be shut down if the fire got any closer to any pumps. |
A number of small bangs have been heard by site staff. They were believed to be aerosol cans exploding, Mr Farrant said. | A number of small bangs have been heard by site staff. They were believed to be aerosol cans exploding, Mr Farrant said. |
The cause of the fire is not yet known. Mr Farrant added the recent hot weather may have contributed, but that was not certain. | The cause of the fire is not yet known. Mr Farrant added the recent hot weather may have contributed, but that was not certain. |
Nearby Trewidland Primary School and Trenode Church of England School did not to open until 1000 BST because of the fire. | Nearby Trewidland Primary School and Trenode Church of England School did not to open until 1000 BST because of the fire. |