VIDEO: Huge Fire at Recycling Facility Threatens Air Traffic in Birmingham, UK

Image credit: West Midlands Fire Service A huge fire at recycling facility which contains 100,000 tonnes of paper and plastics is sending a smoke plume 6000 feet (1800 metres) into the air and threatening travel to and from Birmingham airport in the UK’s West Midlands. It is now believed that the fire was caused by a Chinese lantern. According to West Midlands Fire Service the incident involves a recycling plant called J & A Young, on Dartmouth Road, Smethwick. Approximately 150+ firefighters are said to be tackling the blaze which is sending thick black smoke into the local areas. There are 35 fire appliances and three hydraulic platforms in attendance. To assist with water supplies there are two High Volume Pumping Units being used - one from West Midlands Fire Service and one from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. The West Midlands Ambulance Service has also confirmed that it remains at the scene of blaze in Smethwick having been called to the recycling facility at approximately 11.30pm last night. Emergency resources including ambulances, together with paramedic officers and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) were sent to the scene. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews responded to a major fire at a re-cycling plant in Smethwick overnight,” “Ambulance staff have treated 9 patients for injuries received at the scene. Three of these patients were later conveyed to a local hospital as a precautionary measure,” added the spokesman. According to a report by the BBC, the Fire Service’s area commander, Steve Vincent said there has not been cause to evacuate any of the local residents as it is mainly an industrial area, but that there had been minor injuries to some firefighters. "This is the largest fire that we've had in the West Midlands. It is a major fire and we've got support from surrounding fire brigades to help us deal with this," Vincent is reported to have said. Eye witnesses are reported to have heard a number of loud explosions. "It was like a scene from a movie. There were so many large explosions and loud bangs. It was like a firework display - there were loud crackles and bangs every few seconds," eye witness Jack Awal is reported to have said. 13.00 Update By lunch time today it was being widely reported that the fire was started by a wayward Chinese lantern. Vij Randeniya, chief fire officer at West Midlands Fire Service, told Sky News: "We believe a Chinese lantern dropped onto some bales of plastic and, looking at CCTV, it would appear that was the cause. "Chinese lanterns have been involved in a number of incidents and firefighters have been campaigning for there to be better controls. They look really nice but they do pose a danger," he added. Footage of the blaze can be seen in the video below. Free webcast Don’t miss WMW’s free webcast with presentations from Biffa and ReCommunity looking at optimising the operation of state of the art material recycling facilities. It will give practical advice on improving the sorting or recyclables and optimizing the recovery of recyclates ready for reprocessing. Consultancy Ricardo-AEA will also present examples of communication campaigns to ensure buy-in from residents, such as social media and door stepping surveys. Register Now Read More Huge Fire Engulfs Oil Recycling Yard in Essex A huge fire which required 60 firefighters to bring under control has destroyed a used oil recycling yard on Oaktrees industrial unit. Controlling Dust Explosions at Waste & Recycling Plants Kevin Spiess explains that every year premises are severely damaged or destroyed by dust fires that usually start in dust extraction and waste conveying equipment. Nulife Opens CRT Leaded Glass Recycling Plant New York UK based Nulife Glass has opened a recycling facility in Dunkirk, New York which will soon begin recycling leaded glass from Cathode Ray Tube screens.