Huge recycling centre blaze 'most likely caused by batteries'

Viridor St Helens on Cornwall Street at Parr Industrial Estate saw the blaze break out on Saturday morning.

Thick black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky - up to a height of 30m - from across the area.

Residents reported being able to smell smoke from the fire from different parts of the borough.

Picture: Ady Ball

Firefighters spent 17 hours tackling the flames on Saturday, having been first alerted to the scene shortly after 5.30am.

The fire and rescue service said the blaze measures 50 metres by 50 metres at its height and there were five fire engines and two aerial appliances in attendance.

Firefighters used both water and foam to control the fire and prevent it from spreading.

Crews eventually left the scene shortly after 10.40pm.

Reader Tony Roscoe, of Drone Wolf Photography, has sent in amazing drone footage (above) of the fire.

The Environment Agency were also alerted and made a visit to the site.

While the cause of the fire has not been formally identified, Viridor says that waste site operators believe the blaze is "most likely attributed to lithium-ion batteries".

Pic: Robbob
A Viridor spokesperson said: "A fire at St Helens Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) plant in the early hours of Saturday morning (February 23) was extinguished by firefighters with no injuries and no risk to public health.

"The Environment Agency was notified and visited the site, which reopened on Sunday.

"While the cause of the fire has not been identified, waste site operators know that it is most likely attributed to lithium-ion batteries.

"These batteries are the main cause of waste site fires. They are commonly found in a variety of products, including mobile phones, toys, cameras, eCigarettes and laptop computers.

"Viridor thanks the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service for its assistance, and asks people to responsibly dispose of these batteries at household waste recycling centres."

Pic: Gerry Brady

An Environment Agency spokesperson added: “The Environment Agency attended the waste fire site in St Helens at the weekend. We would like to thank Merseyside Fire and Rescue for their prompt response. The Environment Agency worked with Merseyside Fire and Rescue offering them advice and guidance to reduce the environmental impact of any water run-off.

“The Environment Agency has been back out on site today offering advice and guidance to the waste site owner to enable them to legally remove the burnt waste from site. We will continue to work with the company to establish the cause of the fire.”

Merseyside Fire and rescue Service says a formal investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out in due course.