Over 200 firefighters and 40 fire engines were called to Hunts Waste Recycling in Dagenham, London, yesterday afternoon (12 August), after a large fire broke out at less than 10 miles away from the Olympic Stadium.
Thought to be London’s largest fire for a number of years, the blaze was reported at around 1.15 p.m. yesterday afternoon (12 August) at the facility on Chequers Lane, Dagenham.
Fire crews had brought the blaze under control by 5.30 p.m., but stayed throughout the night to ensure the flames were fully out. The were no reported injuries.
At its height, the blaze engulfed the 164 ft by 328 ft single-storey building – about the size of a football pitch. No injuries have been reported.
Speaking yesterday, London Fire Commissioner Rob Dobson said: “We’ve not seen a fire of this size in London for several years and it was certainly a dramatic end to the Olympics for the London Fire Brigade.”
Mr Dobson added that fire cover being provided at the Olympics “[had] not been affected”, although the BBC reported that sightings of the smoke could be seen from the Olympic Park, around eight miles away. Dobson also stated that, while the cause of the fire is not yet known, “a thorough investigation will begin soon to establish how it started”. The Environment Agency will also be on site to assess the environmental impacts of the blaze.
The Hunts Waste facility recycles and processes a range of waste materials including plastic, glass, food and asbestos, as well as waste from construction, demolition, commercial and industrial sites.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
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