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| Smethwick recycling factory fire: 'Largest blaze' in West Midlands | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Firefighters tackling a blaze involving 100,000 tonnes of plastic recycling material and a factory unit say it is one of the largest fires seen in the West Midlands. | |
| The fire service said 200 firefighters were at the scene in Smethwick. | The fire service said 200 firefighters were at the scene in Smethwick. |
| Three firefighters have been taken to hospital after tackling the fire at the Jayplas depot in Dartmouth Road. | |
| Birmingham International Airport has been alerted because a plume of smoke is rising 6,000ft into the air. | |
| There is currently no impact on flights. | |
| The incident is on an industrial estate, but the closest residents are being advised to keep windows closed. | The incident is on an industrial estate, but the closest residents are 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. |
| 'Loud bangs' | 'Loud bangs' |
| Area commander Steve Vincent said emergency services were called to the fire at about 23:00 BST on Sunday. | Area commander Steve Vincent said emergency services were called to the fire at about 23:00 BST on Sunday. |
| Mr Vincent said: "We haven't evacuated any of the local residents because this is mainly an industrial area but we have had some minor injuries to some of our firefighters at the scene. | Mr Vincent said: "We haven't evacuated any of the local residents because this is mainly an industrial area but we have had some minor injuries to some of our firefighters at the scene. |
| "We're working with other emergency services and they're all safely being treated. | "We're working with other emergency services and they're all safely being treated. |
| "We will have major congestion in this area because we will be fighting this fire for the next few days. | "We will have major congestion in this area because we will be fighting this fire for the next few days. |
| "This is the largest fire that we've had in the West Midlands. It is a major fire and we've got support from surrounding fire brigades to help us deal with this." | "This is the largest fire that we've had in the West Midlands. It is a major fire and we've got support from surrounding fire brigades to help us deal with this." |
| The fire service said its control centre had received more than 200 calls about the blaze and urged people to call 999 only if really necessary. | The fire service said its control centre had received more than 200 calls about the blaze and urged people to call 999 only if really necessary. |
| An ambulance service spokesman said they had treated "nine patients for injuries received at the scene". | |
| "Three of these patients were later conveyed to a local hospital as a precautionary measure," he added. | |
| Eye-witness Jack Awal said he could see the fire from his home a couple of miles away in Handsworth. | Eye-witness Jack Awal said he could see the fire from his home a couple of 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." |