Local residents to a scrap metal yard in Gloucestershire were warned of potential health problems as fire crews were brought in to tackle a blaze at the site.
The Fire which started at Bendall Metals in Harbour Road, Lindley, on 21st February, 2013 at at around 10.45 GMT, involved around 20 scrap vehicles which went up in flames causing huge volumes of smoke and several difficulties for local fire officers.
Due to the incident’s severity of the incident, local roads and train stations were closed while residents in nearby homes and flats were told to close their windows to ensure nobody was affected by the smoke.
According to reports, the fire could be seen from several miles away and led to crews being called from Stroud, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Gloucester and South Wales.
Lydney mayor Bob Berryman, who lives in Aylburton, told the news provider that the smoke caused problems in the local area.
“It smelled really terrible, like rubber burning,” he noted.
“It was thick and black at first, it was right in your face, but then became more grey and thin as the day went on. When it first started it really was horrendous, we had to shut our windows. It was blowing all the way over towards Chepstow.”
According to the local fire authority, fire safety officers and others spent five hours tackling the blaze.
Incident Commander Steve Bateman said: “This was a well developed fire on an industrial site. The pile of cars measures 30 metres by 60 metres by ten metres high.
“Local fire crews tackled the fire alongside colleagues from Stroud, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Gloucester and South Wales.”
Residents who are worried about their health following the incident are advised to ask for medical advice.
Non-domestic premises in England and Wales must have a ‘suitable and sufficient’ fire risk assessment carried out under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
If the assessment is thought to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.
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