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Investigation after Worsley electronics recycling facility fire

Investigation after Worsley electronics recycling facility fire

An investigation in underway to determine the cause of a fire which broke out at an electronics recycling facility in Wardley Industrial Estate, Worsley, operated by end of life solutions provider ViroGreen.

The fire started on Saturday night (6 May) at an electronics recycling facility in Worsley (Picture: Manchester Fire and Rescue Service)

A spokesperson from the Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed today (8 May) that the fire, which started on Saturday night, has been extinguished and an investigation is underway.

When contacted by letsrecycle.com, a spokesperson from ViroGreen confirmed that the fire had taken place at its facility in Worsley, and noted that the site is operational and still taking deliveries.

According to a statement released by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the fire involved a “large quantity of recycled computer parts in an industrial sized container.”

The Fire and Rescue service said: “At 23:11 on May 6 eight fire engines from Greater Manchester along with the Technical Response Unit and Major Rescue Unit from Leigh and the command vehicle from Rochdale attended a fire at a commercial property on Holloway Drive, Worlsey.”

Electrical equipment

“The fire was involving large quantity of recyclable electrical equipment. Fire service used two jets, two monitors, one aerial monitor, mats, pumps and a thermal scanner.”

“Fire service remained on scene for several hours.”

The Greater Manchester Police and the Fire and Rescue Service have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the fire (Picture: Manchester Fire and Rescue Service)

The Fire and Rescue service said that the fire resulted in downed power lines, road closures, train line closure between Manchester and Wigan caused by the cable and evacuations of local residents.

According to a statement released by the Greater Manchester Police, a joint investigation with the Fire and Rescue Service has been launched to establish the cause of the fire.

In a statement, the Greater Manchester Police said: “At around 11.23pm on Saturday 6 May 2017, police were called to Virogreen on Holloway Drive, Swinton following reports of a large building on fire.”

“Twenty people were evacuated from their homes following damage caused by the downed power lines, which fell between Moorside and Walkden railway stations.”

“A joint investigation to establish whether the fire was caused by arson is on-going.”

“All roads in the area have now reopened and those people evacuated from their homes have been allowed to return.”

According to the company’s website, ViroGreen has headquarters in Singapore and provides IT/Electronics asset retirement and disposal at end of the lifecycle.

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