‘Business as usual’ for battery recycling firm after fire

A blaze was reported to the local fire service just after 7pm on Tuesday (March 25), with a spokesman for the West Midlands Fire Service confirming that, at its peak, 80 fire-fighters were on site.

Concern over acrid smoke has also led to an exclusion zone being imposed around the plant, which is a licensed treatment and waste transfer station, but the spokesman added that no evacuation has taken place.

The spokesman explained that “it was a severe fire, made worse by explosions from batteries”, with additional concerns over gas cylinders on site.

By this morning, 40 fire-fighters remained on site, dealing with smaller scale fires that continue to blaze.

He said: “They can't get into the building because it's structurally un-sound, therefore they can't access it to deal with the fire directly and are having to use hydraulic platforms to control hotspots.”

Despite this, G&P Batteries managing director Michael Green today told letsrecycle.com that the company's employees had been able to access the on-site office, and that efforts were being made to maintain “business as usual”.

“We are operating,” he said. “Our phones are operating; our vehicles are out on collections.”

Explaining that it was too early to tell what had started the blaze yet, Mr Green did state that “the fire service are satisfied that it wasn't deliberate”.

A meeting is scheduled to be held later today between officials from West Midlands Fire Service and G&P Batteries to assess both the current situation and the next steps to be taken.