Fire officers were called to the site at 10.55pm on Tuesday evening (12 July) following reports of an incident at Egan Metals Recycling Ltd. The fire has been burning throughout the night.
At the height of the fire 100 firefighters and 21 fire engines were working to contain the blaze at the premises near Docks Road, Aberafan. No injuries have been reported.
Three specialist appliances, a water bowser, a foam unit and a high volume pumping unit, were used to tackle the fire.
The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MWWFRS) has said the fire is “particularly complex in that it involves deep seated fires within a large quantity of waste tyre product but teams are making excellent progress to deal with the incident but this may take some time.”
Disruptions
A number of agencies including South Wales Police, Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, Public Health Wales, Natural Resources Wales, Neath Port Talbot Local Authority and Welsh Water are currently involved in attempting to bring the incident to a close.
The smoke plume is being monitored closely using the National Air Quality Network monitoring systems and staff on site. According to the Fire and Rescue Service, “The systems currently show no sign of any significant change in air quality in the area.”
The MWWFRS said: “Smoke from fires such as these may contain substances that can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Respiratory symptoms can include coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. Public Health Wales is advising people to minimise their exposure to smoke by keeping doors and windows closed and turning any ventilation systems off.”
The site has been cordoned off and the public have been advised to stay clear of the area. Travel may be disrupted in the immediate vicinity and people are being encouraged to use alternative routes.
letsrecycle.com contacted Egan Metals Recycling for a comment, but the company could not be reached.
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