Birmingham blaze continues

MORE than 100 firefighters are tackling a fierce fire at a Birmingham scrap metal plant. 

Those battling the blaze have said they expect it to be a “protracted incident” and started fighting the “severe” fire at the site in Clarel Avenue at around 2pm on Tuesday March 29 after it ignited accidentally according to reports. 

With a visible plume of smoke bellowing over the city, over 800 tonnes of mixed plastic, rubber and metal are on fire in the Saltley area which is about 2km from the city centre. 

Power supplies were intermittent when the fire service isolated certain pylons for safety reasons with 4000 homes being warned of limited power supplies. Western Power advised that all supplies were back on by 9pm. 

Phil Loach, Chief Fire Officer said: “Fire crews have made progress and the fire has now been surrounded.

“These types of incidents draw in a lot of resources in the initial stages – this is to prevent the fire spreading.

“It is likely to be a protracted incident.”