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Swansea tyre factory fire could 'burn for several days' Swansea tyre factory fire could 'burn for several days'
(38 minutes later)
Firefighters have been working through the night to tackle a blaze at a tyre storage factory on an industrial estate in Swansea.Firefighters have been working through the night to tackle a blaze at a tyre storage factory on an industrial estate in Swansea.
Hundreds living near the former Mettoys site in Fforestfach have been advised to keep windows and doors closed.Hundreds living near the former Mettoys site in Fforestfach have been advised to keep windows and doors closed.
A number of roads were closed overnight but some have now been reopened. It is believed that thousands of tonnes of shredded tyres, piled 10ft (3m) high, were stored inside the factory.
Both fire and police say the blaze which began at lunchtime on Thursday could "burn for several days".Both fire and police say the blaze which began at lunchtime on Thursday could "burn for several days".
A number of roads were closed overnight but some have now been reopened.
Five fire engines and 50 firefighters are still at the scene.Five fire engines and 50 firefighters are still at the scene.
The fire caused traffic gridlock as several roads were closed but the main road, Carmarthen Road, has reopened on Friday.The fire caused traffic gridlock as several roads were closed but the main road, Carmarthen Road, has reopened on Friday.
Middle Road has also reopened but Ystrad Road and Bruce Road remain closed. The Fforestfach Industrial Estate is closed and the park and ride service is suspended.Middle Road has also reopened but Ystrad Road and Bruce Road remain closed. The Fforestfach Industrial Estate is closed and the park and ride service is suspended.
Public safetyPublic safety
A special command centre has been set up at Swansea Central Police station.A special command centre has been set up at Swansea Central Police station.
Meanwhile, Swansea council said schools in the area would open as normal on Friday. Swansea council said schools in the area would open as normal on Friday, except Cadle Primary School which has an inset day.
But head teachers are advised to keep windows and external doors closed.
Ch Insp Andy Kingdom of South Wales Police said the fire was being contained, but that it could continue for the next few days.Ch Insp Andy Kingdom of South Wales Police said the fire was being contained, but that it could continue for the next few days.
He said: "Public safety is our main priority and things are going very well at the moment.He said: "Public safety is our main priority and things are going very well at the moment.
"It is too early to establish the cause of the fire at this stage, but there will be a full investigation with the fire service at the fire's conclusion."It is too early to establish the cause of the fire at this stage, but there will be a full investigation with the fire service at the fire's conclusion.
"We are advising people to take sensible precautions. Please do not turn up to watch the fire, try to park away from the affected area, if you have to visit that part of Swansea and keep windows and doors shut."We are advising people to take sensible precautions. Please do not turn up to watch the fire, try to park away from the affected area, if you have to visit that part of Swansea and keep windows and doors shut.
"We have had no reports of any ill health, but if anyone does have concerns they should contact NHS Direct."We have had no reports of any ill health, but if anyone does have concerns they should contact NHS Direct.
He thank residents for their patience and said they have been able to re-open Carmarthen Road on Friday, but some roads were still closed.He thank residents for their patience and said they have been able to re-open Carmarthen Road on Friday, but some roads were still closed.
"However, there are a number of vehicles trying to get to businesses in the vicinity. That area is closed at the moment and we ask people to continue to be patient. We are trying to get things back to normal as soon as possible," the chief inspector added."However, there are a number of vehicles trying to get to businesses in the vicinity. That area is closed at the moment and we ask people to continue to be patient. We are trying to get things back to normal as soon as possible," the chief inspector added.
Fire crews are using two aerial ladders, a high volume pump and five appliances to fight the blaze.Fire crews are using two aerial ladders, a high volume pump and five appliances to fight the blaze.
Richard Fry of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "It's starting to come under control, but it's very deep-seated.Richard Fry of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "It's starting to come under control, but it's very deep-seated.
Smoke billowingSmoke billowing
"The product is quite a number of feet thick in places and it's a very deep seat burning and very slow burning. It's a rubber product from reused vehicle tyres and it's the by-product of the process that was used to recycle these tyres."The product is quite a number of feet thick in places and it's a very deep seat burning and very slow burning. It's a rubber product from reused vehicle tyres and it's the by-product of the process that was used to recycle these tyres.
"There's quite a few tonnes in there. We expect this to continue for a number of days yet.""There's quite a few tonnes in there. We expect this to continue for a number of days yet."
Darren Morgan runs a neighbouring go-karting business called Skids, and was one of the first on the scene.
He said there were thousands of tonnes of shredded tyres in the factory, piled about 10ft (3m) high.
"It was blazing by the time we got there minutes after the alarm was raised, and (the fire) spread very quickly," he said.
Katie Griffiths, of Let's Go Travel, a local bus company running school services, said services were delayed on Thursday after the fire started, but operations should be back to normal by 1500 BST on Friday.
On Thursday, Queensway, part of Carmarthen Road and an industrial site at Waunfach Close were evacuated.On Thursday, Queensway, part of Carmarthen Road and an industrial site at Waunfach Close were evacuated.
Eyewitness Simon Woodley said he saw the smoke as they were about to go for lunch.Eyewitness Simon Woodley said he saw the smoke as they were about to go for lunch.
"Smoke was billowing out of the building behind us ... we saw shredded tyres on fire inside," he told BBC Radio Wales."Smoke was billowing out of the building behind us ... we saw shredded tyres on fire inside," he told BBC Radio Wales.
Mr Woodley said he was about 20 to 25 metres away from the burning building but "luckily the wind was blowing in the other direction" or it too could have quickly become "engulfed".Mr Woodley said he was about 20 to 25 metres away from the burning building but "luckily the wind was blowing in the other direction" or it too could have quickly become "engulfed".
Driving instructor Iwan Williams said he became stuck in traffic between two jobs.Driving instructor Iwan Williams said he became stuck in traffic between two jobs.
He told BBC Radio Cymru that he was travelling from the direction of Townhill when he came to a standstill.He told BBC Radio Cymru that he was travelling from the direction of Townhill when he came to a standstill.
"I can see a huge plume of smoke rising 60-70 metres into the sky - no flames, just thick smoke," he said."I can see a huge plume of smoke rising 60-70 metres into the sky - no flames, just thick smoke," he said.
"I've never seen anything like it. Two ambulances and a fire engine have just passed and I can see two helicopters hovering above," he added."I've never seen anything like it. Two ambulances and a fire engine have just passed and I can see two helicopters hovering above," he added.