Waste management company Veolia has confirmed that it contacted emergency services yesterday at 12.30pm after a fire broke out at the waste transfer station. The company reported that the site was evacuated immediately and no-one had been injured.
The Environment Agency also attended the scene to minimise the environmental impact on the local watercourse.
Damp down
Neil Hibberd, station manager at Derbyshire Fire and Rescue service said: “Firefighters have worked hard through the night to control and extinguish the fire, which was initially affecting 250 tonnes of household and commercial waste, and are currently working with onsite personnel to level the pile of waste, damp this down and ensure it is safe to be removed from the site as soon as possible.”
The statement by the fire service also reported: “A high volume pump (HVP) that had been used to take water directly from the River Derwent to assist in firefighting operations is no longer in use, and therefore the HVP hose that was running along the side of Meadow Lane is no longer in place.”
The crews are expected to remain on scene for the majority of today (25 August).
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue service have warned local people that there may be some smoke in the area, but added today that “however this morning there is very little smoke being produced by the fire”.
Accidental
The emergency services have also reported that the most likely cause of the fire is believed to be “accidental”.
A Veolia spokesperson said: “Health and safety is our highest priority and we will work with the fire services to investigate the cause of fire.”
For practical advice and guidance surrounding fires in the waste industry, book your place at the Fire Prevention and Control Conference taking place on 15 November 2017 in London. Visit www.fireconf.com to see the full programme.
Register for free to comment