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Smethwick fire: Chinese lantern 'caused largest blaze' Smethwick fire: Chinese lantern 'caused largest blaze'
(35 minutes later)
A huge fire involving 100,000 tonnes of plastic recycling material, thought to have been sparked by a Chinese lantern, has been contained say firefighters.A huge fire involving 100,000 tonnes of plastic recycling material, thought to have been sparked by a Chinese lantern, has been contained say firefighters.
Crews described the blaze, which also involved a factory unit, as the largest they had seen in the West Midlands.Crews described the blaze, which also involved a factory unit, as the largest they had seen in the West Midlands.
More than 200 firefighters attended the fire in Smethwick. Three of them have been taken to hospital.More than 200 firefighters attended the fire in Smethwick. Three of them have been taken to hospital.
The fire, which produced a 6,000ft smoke plume, is said to have caused £6m damage to the Jayplas depot.The fire, which produced a 6,000ft smoke plume, is said to have caused £6m damage to the Jayplas depot.
Fire chiefs have now called for an "urgent review" into the use of Chinese lanterns.Fire chiefs have now called for an "urgent review" into the use of Chinese lanterns.
Mike Maxwell, the director of Jayplas, said the fire had been "a tragic accident over which we had no control".Mike Maxwell, the director of Jayplas, said the fire had been "a tragic accident over which we had no control".
The blaze in Dartmouth Road is within an industrial estate, but the closest residents were being advised to keep windows closed.The blaze in Dartmouth Road is within an industrial estate, but the closest residents were being advised to keep windows closed.
The fire service said Dartmouth Road, Halfords Lane and Brasshouse Lane were closed to traffic and that the fire was likely to cause congestion in the area.The fire service said Dartmouth Road, Halfords Lane and Brasshouse Lane were closed to traffic and that the fire was likely to cause congestion in the area.
It also urged motorists to avoid junction one of the M5 if possible.It also urged motorists to avoid junction one of the M5 if possible.
Nearby Galton Valley Primary School, in Brasshouse Lane, was closed because of the road closures.Nearby Galton Valley Primary School, in Brasshouse Lane, was closed because of the road closures.
Birmingham International Airport was alerted although flights were unaffected.Birmingham International Airport was alerted although flights were unaffected.
'Sucking in air'
Chief fire officer Vij Randeniya said the fire, which began at about 23:00 BST on Sunday, had taken eight minutes to take hold after a lantern landed in the depot.Chief fire officer Vij Randeniya said the fire, which began at about 23:00 BST on Sunday, had taken eight minutes to take hold after a lantern landed in the depot.
The service has previously campaigned against the use of Chinese lanterns.The service has previously campaigned against the use of Chinese lanterns.
'Steady progress'
"What you're doing in an unregulated and uncontrolled way is putting fire in the sky and every now and again it lands on something like this and we're here for three days," Mr Randeniya said."What you're doing in an unregulated and uncontrolled way is putting fire in the sky and every now and again it lands on something like this and we're here for three days," Mr Randeniya said.
In a statement, West Midlands Fire Service urged community leaders and members of the public to discourage the use of Chinese lanterns.In a statement, West Midlands Fire Service urged community leaders and members of the public to discourage the use of Chinese lanterns.
It said there was "wide scope" for limiting the use of such lanterns and questioned whether event licences would be needed for anyone wanting to release them.It said there was "wide scope" for limiting the use of such lanterns and questioned whether event licences would be needed for anyone wanting to release them.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was raising awareness of the risks of sky lanterns and looking to see what could be done to improve fire safety.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was raising awareness of the risks of sky lanterns and looking to see what could be done to improve fire safety.
It is also asking councils to look at the licensing of mass releases of the lanterns.It is also asking councils to look at the licensing of mass releases of the lanterns.
The blaze has been contained to an area of about 90,000 sq m although it has caused "£6m of devastation", Mr Randeniya said. Mr Randeniya said they had made "steady progress" on the fire, although it had caused "£6m of devastation".
"We've removed 12 articulated lorries, saved an awful lot of businesses on the perimeter and now we're to spend the next two or three days putting the thing out," he said. He said: "We can see the seat of the fire, but we can't get to it at the moment - and that measures about 300m by 300m.
"The heat that's coming off that fire is tremendous. "Conditions are difficult and it's quite tricky underfoot so we're having to be extremely careful. We can only take it 100m at a time but hopefully by tomorrow we will have made substantial progress."
"The smoke's gone up to 6,000 feet but it's sucking the air in around the area and that's feeding oxygen which is making the fire burn more fiercely." About 100 firefighters remained at the site on Monday evening.
About 100 firefighters now remain at the site.
Mr Maxwell, from the recycling plant, apologised to all the people living nearby for the disruption caused and said they hoped to "have the site up and running as soon as possible".Mr Maxwell, from the recycling plant, apologised to all the people living nearby for the disruption caused and said they hoped to "have the site up and running as soon as possible".
He added: "Jayplas will do everything we can to assist the emergency services and the Environment Agency to ensure the site and surrounding areas are made safe and cleaned up as quickly as possible with minimum impact to the local environment."He added: "Jayplas will do everything we can to assist the emergency services and the Environment Agency to ensure the site and surrounding areas are made safe and cleaned up as quickly as possible with minimum impact to the local environment."
Mr Randeniya said it was the 15th fire at a waste-transfer station in the West Midlands this year and said he was calling for a meeting with its operators. Mr Randeniya said it was the 15th fire at a waste recycling site in the West Midlands this year and said he was calling for a meeting with plant operators.
Area commander Steve Vincent described it as the "largest fire that we've had in the West Midlands".Area commander Steve Vincent described it as the "largest fire that we've had in the West Midlands".
The ambulance service said it had treated 13 firefighters "for a variety of minor injuries, though three were taken to hospital overnight".The ambulance service said it had treated 13 firefighters "for a variety of minor injuries, though three were taken to hospital overnight".
"Injuries include heat exhaustion, injuries to eyes and an ankle as well as one minor burn," a spokesman added."Injuries include heat exhaustion, injuries to eyes and an ankle as well as one minor burn," a spokesman added.
'Loud bangs''Loud bangs'
Public Health England in the West Midlands said smoke from any source could contain substances to irritate breathing, skin or eyes.Public Health England in the West Midlands said smoke from any source could contain substances to irritate breathing, skin or eyes.
"People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be particularly susceptible to the smoke and should carry and use their medication [such as inhalers] as usual," said a spokesman."People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be particularly susceptible to the smoke and should carry and use their medication [such as inhalers] as usual," said a spokesman.
Witness Jack Awal said he could see the fire from his home two miles away in Handsworth.Witness Jack Awal said he could see the fire from his home two miles away in Handsworth.
He said: "I heard a loud bang and went outside to see what it was.He said: "I heard a loud bang and went outside to see what it was.
"I immediately recognised where the smoke was coming from. I knew it had to be a factory."I immediately recognised where the smoke was coming from. I knew it had to be a factory.
"It was like a scene from a movie. There were so many large explosions and loud bangs. It was like a firework display - there were loud crackles and bangs every few seconds.""It was like a scene from a movie. There were so many large explosions and loud bangs. It was like a firework display - there were loud crackles and bangs every few seconds."