Biffa Waste Services Recycling Plant in Edinburgh Blazes
Fire crews were still fighting a major fire yesterday that had actually started on Sunday at a Biffa Waste Services recycling plant in Edinburgh. Smoke from the blaze could be seen as far away as Fife while 4 specialized appliances and 6 fire engines have been needed.
The Biffa Waste Services center is located on West Shore Road. By yesterday, the roof had already caved in and the steel structure was starting to buckle. Plus, 8 firefighters had to go into the building with oxygen tanks to help get control of the fire down from the inside.
Robert Taylor, the Fire Group manager, said that they were called about the fire around 5:25am on Sunday, for which they immediately dispatched personnel to the scene. The initial crews called for backup rather quickly, he continued, and more firefighters were sent from other places in Edinburgh. Because of fuel tanks in the nearby area, it was very important that they contain the blaze quickly, he added.
A worker at the plant said that the smoke could be seen from miles away. He arrived from Rosyth for work yesterday morning, he continued, and could see the cloud of smoke well before getting to the site. Biffa told all staff that there won’t be any work for at least the day, he added.
As of yesterday, the fire crews were able to contain the worst, and the blaze was being managed by fewer fighters. However, there is still concern about the building collapsing. A Biffa spokesman said that the fire is likely to have originated with the arrival of new materials. The plant processes mostly recycled waste that is locally collected, including plastics, paper and cardboard.
Recycle your old stuff!