Fire in Horwich recycling facility
Firefighters tackle blaze at a recycling plant in Horwich - Image used courtesy of www.fireflash-delta64.co.uk.
12345At 1317 hrs on Thursday 17th July 2008, fire crews responded to a report of a fire in the open at a commercial recycling facility on Chorley New Road in Horwich. On arrival crews found a rapidly developing fire involving approximately 3,500 tons of recycled timber, approximately 30 metres by 30 metres in size.
Further assistance was requested including two aerial platforms due to the height of the pile which was up to twenty metres in parts. Because of the large amounts of water required pumps were set into a brook via Drinkwater Lane as well as using street hydrants. Firefighters concentrated their initial efforts on protecting buildings on the site and fire breaks were created by staff onsite using large hydraulic diggers. Whilst these efforts prevented the fire spreading to the buildings, more of the timber become involved, with flames and a large plume of smoke still visible at midnight.