Walleys Quarry fire update
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended a serious fire at the Walleys Quarry landfill site late last night.
At its peak 30 firefighters were present. The situation now appears to be under control, although it is anticipated that fire crews will remain on site for several days.
Borough Council officers responded to the situation last night and activated the incident management response, which includes preparations for different emergency plans, as needed.
Today council officers are still monitoring the situation and liaising with colleagues at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, Staffordshire Police, the Environment Agency and Staffordshire County Council.
For the time being residents should continue to follow the advice from the Fire and Police services. Officers are also in touch with the operators of Walleys Quarry to better understand the consequences of the fire. It is likely that some smoke and steam may be seen on site as work is undertaken to prevent reignition.
Staffordshire Police are investigating the potential cause of the fire. The Police will have a presence around the site, with some additional patrols also taking place to provide community reassurance.
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:
As it is the lead regulator for the site, I also expect the Environment Agency (EA) to take the necessary steps regarding the operation of the facility until we know how this fire happened.
Accordingly, the Council is seeking clarity on what investigations the EA is undertaking.
I am shocked and concerned that such a large fire could break out at night on landfill and the investigating agency should leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of what happened. Local residents have suffered enough with foul odours blighting the areas for many years and this latest turn of events has added to people’s fears and concerns.”
Based on the latest information, the UK Health Security Agency advises that any smoke can be an irritant, which can affect airways, eyes and skin, causing coughing, wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain. These symptoms are in line with what has been reported by residents. Substances in smoke can worsen health problems like asthma and heart conditions. If anyone is concerned for their health, they should contact NHS 111 online or get in touch with their GP.
People in areas affected by smoke should stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed. Any motorists who have to travel through smoke should keep windows closed and turn off air conditioning and keep air vents closed.