Early indications are that the fire is in the production or processing area of the plant and not in the paper storage area. However, details are still to be confirmed and a statement from Palm Paper is awaited.
Norfolk Fire and Rescue has sent several crews from the area to tackle the blaze including an aerial ladder platform and a support appliance as well as water carriers.
Breathing apparatus
In a statement this afternoon, the fire serice said: “Crews wearing breathing apparatus are using main and hose reel jets supplemented by a hydrant to try and extinguish the fire. Thermal image cameras are being used to check for hot spots and small gear is also in use.”
Palm Paper is the largest producer of newsprint in the UK and is a major consumer of used newspapers and magazines.
Ambulance service
The ambulance service was called to the scene, which it described as a “large fire”, after 2pm. A spokesman told letsrecycle.com that they were told initially there were no casualties but one person was subsequently taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.
No details of the injured person and his or her condition have been released yet. No-one else has been reported as injured but the ambulance service was remaining on the scene, the spokesman added.
Local sources described “a lot of activity at the mill with a strong emergency services presence in the early evening”.
Update
On October 10, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service told letsrecycle.com that the fire had been brought under control on Friday evening.
“Crews were there over weekend and this morning we have scaled down the presence with one crew and appliance there as a watching brief,” said a spokesperson for NFRS.
FIRE CONFERENCE
A conference on fire prevention and control in the waste and recycling industry, organised by letsrecycle.com, is to be held in London on 9 November 2016. More details and registration for places, at: www.fireconf.com
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