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Investigation into Hitchin metal fire launched

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue has launched an investigation into the causes of a fire at a scrapyard in Hitchin yesterday (20 December).

Fire services were called to the scrapyard at 5.28am (picture: Herts Fire Control Twitter)

Firefighters were called to the yard, owned by Metal & Waste Recycling Ltd, at 5.28am yesterday and fought the blaze for more than eight hours, before it was eventually put out shortly after 2pm.

Fire services were called to the scrapyard at 5.28am (picture: Herts Fire Control Twitter)

At its peak the fire involved more than 300 tonnes of scrap metal (see letsrecycle.com story).

Firefighters

However, yesterday afternoon it was confirmed on the Herts Fire & Rescue Twitter page  that firefighting operations had ceased but that crews were still at the scene to damp down the remains of the fire, and no-one was injured in the blaze.

The fire service said specialist breathing apparatus and jets had been in use at the scene and that 14 engines from across the region, including from Hitchin, Letchworth and Baldock, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage, had tackled the fire.

‘Quick response’

In a statement given to letsrecycle.com yesterday, a Metal & Waste Recycling Ltd spokesperson said: “The fire has now been contained and brought under control and there have been no injuries.

“Our thanks go to Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and our team who quickly reduced risk and made the area safe. We apologise to our neighbours affected by this.

“We will now work alongside the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.”

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