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Nine firefighters injured tackling 'largest ever' blaze in West Midlands Nine firefighters injured tackling 'largest ever' blaze in West Midlands
(35 minutes later)
A huge fire in the West Midlands – which has resulted in nine firefighters being treated for injuries and a smoke plume reaching 6,000 feet – was caused by a Chinese lantern, the fire service said. A huge fire in the West Midlands – which has resulted in 11 firefighters being treated for injuries or exhaustion and a smoke plume reaching 6,000 feet – was caused by a Chinese lantern, the fire service said.
Three of those hurt have been taken to hospital as a precaution as more than 200 firefighters tackle the blaze involving 50,000 tonnes of paper and plastic at a recycling plant in Smethwick.Three of those hurt have been taken to hospital as a precaution as more than 200 firefighters tackle the blaze involving 50,000 tonnes of paper and plastic at a recycling plant in Smethwick.
Air travel over an area around Birmingham might be affected by the plume according to West Midlands fire service, which has warned the incident could last several days. Air travel over an area around Birmingham might be affected by the plume, according to West Midlands fire service, which has warned the incident could last several days.
People living near the J & A Young plant have been warned to keep their windows shut, and a local primary school will not open on Monday. Motorists were told not to use junction 1 of the M5.People living near the J & A Young plant have been warned to keep their windows shut, and a local primary school will not open on Monday. Motorists were told not to use junction 1 of the M5.
More than 200 firefighters, 35 fire appliances and three hydraulic platforms as well as two special high pumping units to help water supplies are engaged in trying to control the fire.More than 200 firefighters, 35 fire appliances and three hydraulic platforms as well as two special high pumping units to help water supplies are engaged in trying to control the fire.
Area commander Steve Vincent told the BBC that emergency services were called at about 11pm on Sunday. "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.Area commander Steve Vincent told the BBC that emergency services were called at about 11pm on Sunday. "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. 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.""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."
Eye-witness Jack Awal told the BBC he could see the fire from his home two miles away in Handsworth. West Midlands ambulance service said: "A total of 11 firefighters have been treated by ambulance service staff 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."
Witness Jack Awal told the BBC he could see the fire from his home two miles away in Handsworth.
"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 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.
"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."
Despite the warnings, Birmingham airport said flights had not been affected so far. Chinese lanterns made of paper-covered wire or bamboo with an open-flame heat source – effectively miniature hot-air balloons – have been increasingly used to celebrate special occasions but have become a nuisance for fire services and animal charities, having been blamed for fires around the country for a number of years.
West Midlands fire service itself carries warnings on its website appealing to the public not to use them not only because of the obvious dangers but because "emergency services can also suffer a loss of resources whilst having to deal with lantern sightings being mistaken as something else eg a distress flair or UFO".
Only last month Somerset fire service and Michael Eavis, organiser of the Glastonbury festival, where they have been banned for years, warned music lovers not to ignore the edict because of the danger both to other festival-goers in their tents and to local farms.
The RSPCA says the lanterns can harm wildlife, livestock and other animals, which may eat dangerous splinters, become entangled in parts or be killed in fires.