Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the incident at Pickerings Road at 10:26am.
The fire involves a large quantity of waste material and has spread to a steel-framed building on the site.
Crews from Widnes, Runcorn, Penketh, Congleton, Crewe, Frodsham and Northwich are in attendance, alongside a weekday fire engine and support from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
Specialist resources including a command unit, water bowser, high-volume pump and welfare unit have also been mobilised.
Firefighters have divided the incident into sectors to manage operations, with six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus using hose reel jets to tackle the blaze.
In an update issued at 2.30pm, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed firefighters remained at the scene and that its high reach extending turret (HRET), known as the “Scorpion”, had been deployed to help dampen down the fire from above.
A significant smoke plume continues to be generated by the fire, prompting Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to advise nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed if affected by smoke.
In a Facebook post, the fire service said: “Firefighters are in attendance at a fire at a waste recycling facility in Widnes. Six fire engines are at the scene, supported by specialist resources.
“Nearby residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed if they are affected by smoke from the fire.”
The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed and no injuries have been reported.
The facility involved has not been formally identified by emergency services. However, the incident is understood to have occurred at a waste management and skip hire site on Pickerings Road.
Firefighters remain in attendance and further updates are expected as the incident develops.
Ongoing concerns over recycling fire epidemic
The incident comes amid continued concern over fires at waste and recycling facilities across the UK and Ireland, with operators and fire services reporting persistent incidents involving mixed waste and recyclable materials.
A number of notable fires have broken out in May, including the two week long operation at a Fife landfill site.
Industry bodies including the Environmental Services Association have warned that battery-related fires – particularly those linked to improperly disposed lithium-ion batteries – are now occurring at what they describe as “epidemic levels”.
These very issues will be at the heart of discussion at the Fire and Health & Safety Conference, taking place on 22 October 2026 – register your interest here.
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