Fire crews were called to WRC Recyclings site at Floors Street, Johnstone in Renfrewshire at 18:02 yesterday. On arrival, crews found a large unit containing recycling equipment and waste alight.
Over 60 firefighters were in attendance with crews from Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Dunbartonshire, Ayrshire and Lanarkshire called in to tackle the blaze. Crews used aerial rescue pumps to douse the flames from above.
A spokesman from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue told letsrecycle.com this morning (January 22) that the fire had been extinguished and the operation on site had been scaled down. He added that firefighters were still in attendance and were dampening down to make sure the fire did not reignite.
Discussing the incident, he said: The call came in at 18:02 last night about a fire in an area called Floors Street, Johnstone in Renfrewshire. The first appliances on scene were from Johnstone Community Fire station. It was quickly escalated and additional appliances were called in from Renfrew and Paisley. After that, it was clear that this was a quite a substantial fire so further fire engines were called in from across the Strathclyde region.
When they arrived on scene, the first crews found a large quantity of recycling material, containing both equipment and waste, presumed to be plastic, well alight. As you can understand its a massive fire.
Firefighters doused flames across the 50 metre by 40 metre site. The fire produced large volumes of thick black smoke and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency had been informed as a result.
Operations
When contacted by letsrecycle.com WRC Recycling declined to comment. The firm collects and processes waste polyethylene foams from the furniture and packaging industries.
The company says on its website that it has invested heavily in state-of-the-art processing technology and facilities. It uses high capacity granulation and shredding systems to process the waste. After processing, WRC Recycling exports a range of materials including HDPE, PET, mixed bottles, film, aluminium and steel cans, paper and cardboard.
Disruption
The blaze has caused problems to local amenities with nearby roads and rail services closed. Strathclyde Police said the disruption could last well into the morning. Pilots at nearby Glasgow airport were also alerted.
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A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said nearby houses had been evacuated as a precaution.
She said: Emergency services are in attendance at the WRC Recycling site at Floor Street, Johnstone following a fire that broke out at ten past six last night. There is no danger to the public however houses in Floorsburn Avenue, Floorsburn Crescent and Gibson Crescent have been evacuated as a precaution.
She added that investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing.
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