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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Major waste fire is extinguished | Major waste fire is extinguished |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Fire crews have been damping down a fire at a landfill site in south east Cornwall after spending more than a dozen hours putting out the flames. | Fire crews have been damping down a fire at a landfill site in south east Cornwall after spending more than a dozen hours putting out the flames. |
| More than 50 firefighters from Cornwall and Devon were in attendance at the height of the blaze, at Lean Quarry, east of Liskeard. | More than 50 firefighters from Cornwall and Devon were in attendance at the height of the blaze, at Lean Quarry, east of Liskeard. |
| The fire, which was spotted at about 0430 BST, was described as a "major incident" by the emergency services. | The fire, which was spotted at about 0430 BST, was described as a "major incident" by the emergency services. |
| At one point the fire led to minor road closures in the vicinity. | At one point the fire led to minor road closures in the vicinity. |
| Methane gas levels were managed throughout the day to avoid explosion risks at the site, which is privately run by waste company Viridor. | Methane gas levels were managed throughout the day to avoid explosion risks at the site, which is privately run by waste company Viridor. |
| The site takes industrial and domestic waste from Plymouth and Cornwall. | The site takes industrial and domestic waste from Plymouth and Cornwall. |
| Environmental health officers also monitored the air in the neighbourhood and people in a nearby village and schools were told to stay inside because of burning plastic. | Environmental health officers also monitored the air in the neighbourhood and people in a nearby village and schools were told to stay inside because of burning plastic. |
| Gas extraction | Gas extraction |
| The fire broke out at the eastern end of the tip and the alarm was raised by a lorry driver delivering waste to the site. | The fire broke out at the eastern end of the tip and the alarm was raised by a lorry driver delivering waste to the site. |
| Viridor site manager Terry Farrant said: "It was very foggy here this morning. One of our drivers came in at about 4.30 and, in the fog, he could see what was a glimmer and raised the alarm." | Viridor site manager Terry Farrant said: "It was very foggy here this morning. One of our drivers came in at about 4.30 and, in the fog, he could see what was a glimmer and raised the alarm." |
| Smoke has been visible for miles around the site. It also blew across the A38 when fog and low cloud prevented it from dispersing. | Smoke has been visible for miles around the site. It also blew across the A38 when fog and low cloud prevented it from dispersing. |
| Firefighters said they had been taking water from a lagoon on the site to tackle it. | Firefighters said they had been taking water from a lagoon on the site to tackle it. |
| Firefighters from Devon and Cornwall were called to the scene | Firefighters from Devon and Cornwall were called to the scene |
| They added that there had been considerable risk from methane, a gas that builds up naturally in landfill sites, and that they had monitored the situation closely. | They added that there had been considerable risk from methane, a gas that builds up naturally in landfill sites, and that they had monitored the situation closely. |
| Mr Farrant said the site's methane extraction equipment was used to remove gas. | Mr Farrant said the site's methane extraction equipment was used to remove gas. |
| At one point a number of small bangs - thought to be aerosol cans exploding - were heard by site staff, Mr Farrant said. | At one point a number of small bangs - thought to be aerosol cans exploding - were heard by site staff, Mr Farrant said. |
| Two nearby schools, Trewidland Primary and Trenode Church of England School, did not to open until 1000 BST because of the fire. | Two nearby schools, Trewidland Primary and Trenode Church of England School, did not to open until 1000 BST because of the fire. |
| Staff were advised to keep everyone indoors, plus shut the buildings' doors and windows. Similar advice was also given to households in the village of Horningtops by police. | Staff were advised to keep everyone indoors, plus shut the buildings' doors and windows. Similar advice was also given to households in the village of Horningtops by police. |
| 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. |