Battle rages on against Deeside Industrial Park blaze

May 7 2008 by Lois Bishop, Chester Chronicle

FIREFIGHTERS are continuing to tackle a massive blaze at a recycling plant in Deeside Industrial Park.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called to Paperback Recycling on Tenth Avenue, Zone three, at 10.33am today (Wednesday).

All staff have been safely evacuated from the building as well as from the buildings immediately adjacent.

Six appliances are in attendance – two from Deeside, one from Flint, one from Buckley, two from Chester, as well as an aerial ladder platform and incident command unit from Wrexham.

On arrival at the collection and recycling plant, firefighters say the fire was well alight and had spread throughout the premises. The building is approximately 80m by 40m in size and 15m high.

It is not thought that there are any hazardous materials involved, but the advice from firefighters at the scene at present is for residents nearby to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution due to the smoke.

Chronicle reporter at the scene Rachel Barrows said: “I can see bright red flames inside the building and you can feel the heat. Acrid black smoke is billowing out of it.There are piles of ash falling down from the sky and you can taste the smoke in the air.”

Ian Williams, the operations commander at the scene, confirmed work is still ongoing to extinguish the fire

He said: “We are working with the owners of the premises. No one has been reported as injured. Gas and electricity suppliers have been called to the scene to assist in closing down supplies to the premises. The Environment Agency have been formed and North Wales Police and Ambulance are in attendance.”